HOUSE BILL 479

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

David E. Adkins

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; ALLOWING SCHOOLS THAT IMPROVED THEIR GRADE RATING THROUGH THE K-3 PLUS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-13-28. K-3 PLUS--ELIGIBILITY--APPLICATION--REPORTING AND EVALUATION.--

          A. The six-year K-3 plus 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 the regular school years.

           C. K-3 plus shall be conducted upon application in high-poverty public schools, schools with a D or F grade the previous year or schools that improved their school grade with the K-3 plus program and wish to continue the program. For the purposes of K-3 plus, "high-poverty public school" means a public school in which eighty percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch at the time the public school applies for the program [or an elementary school with a D or F grade the previous year].

          D. The department shall 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 research-based, scientific reading strategies and programs. 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. Funding for individual school programs shall be based on enrollment on the fifteenth day of the program.

          F. School districts and charter schools that meet the qualifications for K-3 plus funding may submit applications by March 15 for the succeeding fiscal year. The department shall notify all school districts and charter schools by February 1 that applications will be accepted until March 15 and that final funding is contingent on the final unit value set by the secretary. The notification shall include the application and any requirements for supplementary documentation. Applications may be submitted electronically or by mail or other delivery. 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.

          H. Students participating in K-3 plus shall be evaluated at the beginning of K-3 plus, and their progress shall be measured through department-approved summative and formative assessments.

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

          J. The department may use up to four percent of any appropriation made by the legislature for K-3 plus 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. APPLICABILITY.--The provisions of this act apply to the 2015-2016 and subsequent school years. For the 2015-2016 school year, the public education department may accept applications from schools that meet the requirements of Section 1 of this act and withhold its decision on the applications until the section becomes law.

     SECTION 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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