SENATE BILL 296
51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014
INTRODUCED BY
Linda M. Lopez
AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; PROHIBITING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FROM CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS UNTIL CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET; PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADOPTION OR REVISION OF CURRICULAR STANDARDS; REQUIRING THE STATE TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSESSMENT OF READINESS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS; PROHIBITING THE STATE FROM IMPLEMENTING ASSESSMENTS ALIGNED TO COMMON CORE STANDARDS BY THE PARTNERSHIP; REQUIRING THE STATE TO USE ASSESSMENTS IN PLACE BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS; PROHIBITING THE DEPARTMENT FROM ENTERING INTO CERTAIN AGREEMENTS; REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND A FISCAL ANALYSIS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMON CORE STANDARDS; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] COMMON CORE STANDARDS--CEASING CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION--PROVIDING FOR HEARINGS AND A STUDY--LIMITATIONS ON SECRETARIAT POWER TO ENTER INTO CURRICULAR AGREEMENTS.--
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department shall cease implementation of the common core standards in English language arts and mathematics, which were adopted by the state as part of the May 2009 memorandum of agreement with the national governors association and the council of chief state school officers, or any other subject areas until the provisions of this section are met. School districts shall continue to use New Mexico academic content and performance standards and the New Mexico standards-based assessments until the requirements of this section have been met.
B. The department shall hold at least four public hearings in each congressional district by November 1, 2014, with the attendance of the secretary or the deputy secretary for policy and programs, or a designee who is an appropriate programmatic manager or director, and the director of the legislative education study committee or the director's designee. At the public hearings, the department shall explain the state's decision to change from New Mexico academic content and performance standards and the New Mexico standards-based assessments. Public testimony shall be taken on the implementation of the common core standards and the process by which the department entered into agreements that changed New Mexico academic content and performance standards. The hearings shall feature a nonbinding vote of the audience to help demonstrate public sentiment on the topic. Hearings shall be publicized through notices to staffs and parents in the school districts in the congressional district in which the hearing is being held and through public service announcements and community organizations. Hearings shall be recorded and available to the public for listening or viewing, as applicable. Continuing reports of the hearings shall be presented to the legislative education study committee at its regularly scheduled meetings.
C. The legislative education study committee shall contract with an independent entity with expertise in the development, implementation and assessment of curricular standards to conduct a fiscal analysis of the implementation of common core standards in New Mexico. The analysis shall include:
(1) the projected cost of implementing the common core standards and providing necessary professional development for teachers and principals;
(2) the projected cost of developing, administering and grading assessments tied to the common core standards; and
(3) the cost of retaining the state's academic content and performance standards and the standards-based assessments.
D. Before adopting a system of curricular standards, after July 1, 2015, the department shall compare state standards with other nationally recognized standards of student achievement, including common core, and shall consult with school superintendents, in-state curricular experts and others. After a fair and balanced study of state and national standards, the department shall report to the legislature on its findings and selections.
E. The department shall not enter into or renew any agreement that cedes control over curricular standards or assessments to an entity not under the absolute control of the state. The department shall withdraw from the partnership for assessment of readiness for college and careers while the requirements of Subsections B and C of this section are being conducted, and the department shall not implement the assessments aligned to the common core standards by the partnership."
SECTION 2. APPROPRIATIONS.--
A. Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2015 to fund public hearings on implementation of common core standards and the decision to change from New Mexico academic content and performance standards and the New Mexico standards-based assessments to the common core standards and assessments. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2015 shall revert to the general fund.
B. Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative education study committee for expenditure in fiscal year 2015 to contract for a fiscal analysis of adoption and implementation of the common core standards and assessments. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2015 shall revert to the general fund.
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