SENATE BILL 670

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Carlos R. Cisneros

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CURRICULA FOR VIRTUAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL ACADEMIES FOR LIFELONG LEARNERS IN NEW MEXICO.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Six million dollars ($6,000,000) is appropriated from the separate account of the appropriation contingency fund established in Laws 2004, Chapter 114, Section 12 to the higher education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to contract for the design, development and implementation of a project-based, story-centered and learn-by-doing curriculum. The curriculum will be supported by real-time mentoring from career-field experts for delivery through virtual three-dimensional academies for students in New Mexico.           B. The request for proposals issued by the higher education department shall include provisions that require respondents to design curricula that:

                (1) enhance career skills, critical thinking skills, communication skills and college preparedness and, upon completion, enable students to be immediately capable of performing useful work in the field addressed by the curricula;

                (2) use simulated professional experiences that create realistic workplace situations, stimulating learners' interest in the industry clusters of aerospace, health care, energy and digital media and film and encouraging students to pursue further studies in those fields;

                (3) will be available for local or remote participation by lifelong learners working together in teams mentored by faculty and professionals on a web site controlled by the state of New Mexico; and

                (4) will provide for professional development in mentoring methods and techniques for New Mexico faculty and real-time career-field mentors. 

           C. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2011 shall revert to the separate account of the appropriation contingency fund described in Subsection A of this section.

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