HOUSE BILL 14

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CONVERTING K-3 PLUS FROM A PILOT PROJECT TO A PROGRAM IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL TIME FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-13-28 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 12, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "22-13-28. K-3 PLUS--[PILOT PROJECT] ELIGIBILITY--APPLICATION--REPORTING AND EVALUATION.--

          A. ["K-3 plus" is created as a six-year pilot project that extends the school year for kindergarten through third grade by up to two months for participating students and measures the effect of additional time on literacy, numeracy and social skills development. The purpose of] The six-year K-3 plus [is to demonstrate] pilot project has demonstrated that increased time in kindergarten and the early grades narrows the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and other students and increases cognitive skills and leads to higher test scores for all participants.

          B. The "K-3 plus" program is created in the department to provide funding for additional educational time for disadvantaged students in kindergarten through third grade. K-3 plus shall be administered by the department and shall provide the funding for approved full-day kindergarten and grades one through three to be extended by at least twenty-five instructional days, beginning up to two months earlier than [other classes] the regular school years.

           C. K-3 plus shall be conducted in high-poverty public schools. For the purposes of K-3 plus, "high-poverty public school" means a public school in which eighty-five percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch at the time the public school applies for the program.

          D. The department shall [determine] promulgate rules for application requirements and procedures and criteria for evaluating applications. In evaluating applications for K-3 plus, the department shall grant priority to those schools with [kindergarten plus] research-based, scientific reading strategies and programs [that have received one or more satisfactory annual evaluations]. An applicant shall demonstrate that its K-3 plus program will meet all department standards and employ only qualified teachers and other staff.

          E. K-3 plus programs shall be funded at no less than thirty percent of the unit value per student. Up to two percent of the money received by a school district shall be used for student recruitment and to ensure regular attendance by K-3 plus students.

          F. Schools that are awarded funding for K-3 plus for the next school year shall be notified by April 15 of the calendar year.

          G. The department shall provide additional professional development for K-3 plus teachers in how young children learn to read. Teachers and educational assistants shall be paid at the same rate and under the same terms for K-3 plus as teachers and educational assistants are paid for regular educational programs.

          [E.] H. Students participating in K-3 plus shall be evaluated at the beginning of K-3 plus, and their progress shall be measured through standardized assessments as follows:

                (1) in literacy, the dynamic indicator of basic early literacy skills in kindergarten and in grades one through three; and

                (2) in numeracy, in grades three and four.

          [F.] I. The department shall establish reporting and evaluation requirements for participating schools, including student and program assessments. The department shall [provide interim and final reports] report annually to the legislature and the governor on the efficacy of K-3 plus.

          [G.] J. The department may use up to four percent of any appropriation made by the legislature for [the] K-3 plus [pilot project] for professional development for participating educators and department administrative costs.

          K. The department shall develop and disseminate information on best practices in the areas of student recruitment, retention and academic success of early learners.

          L. The secretary shall appoint a "K-3 plus advisory committee" composed of representatives of school districts that participate in K-3 plus and other stakeholders. The advisory committee shall meet twice a year to advise the department on K-3 plus implementation."

     SECTION 2. A new section of Chapter 22, Article 13 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] K-3 PLUS FUND--CREATED--ADMINISTRATION--CURRENT APPROPRIATION.--The "K-3 plus fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. The department shall administer the fund and money in the fund is appropriated to the department for K-3 plus programs, K-3 plus-related professional development and department administrative costs as provided in Section 22-13-28 NMSA 1978. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance of the fiscal year 2012 appropriation for K-3 plus in Subsection I of Section 4 of Chapter 179 of Laws 2011 shall not revert to the general fund and shall be transferred to the K-3 plus fund."

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