SENATE BILL 443

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

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL; ENACTING THE TEACHER CAREER ACADEMY ACT; PROVIDING FOR APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING BY ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE TEACHING CAREER INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES SIX THROUGH TWELVE; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Teacher Career Academy Act"."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Teacher Career Academy Act is to increase the number of high-achieving students who enter the teaching profession by recruiting students in grades six through twelve and providing them with information about career opportunities in teaching and the availability of financial assistance for teacher preparation."

     SECTION 3. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.-- As used in the Teacher Career Academy Act:

          A. "eligible school" means a public elementary school that enrolls students in grade six or a public middle, junior high or high school;

          B. "fund" means the teacher career academy fund; and

          C. "pre-collegiate activities" means activities that support and encourage students to enter the teaching profession, including extracurricular education clubs, involvement in business and community organizations, secondary and post-secondary courses, practice as a student assistant, peer teaching, tutoring services, professional development opportunities through summer camps or institutes and other activities approved by the department."

     SECTION 4. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHER CAREER ACADEMY PROGRAM--CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT COURSES--APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING.--

          A. The department and school district representatives shall work with the higher education department, teacher preparation programs and community colleges to develop concurrent enrollment teaching courses in areas such as teaching techniques, classroom management, child development, learning styles, cultural diversity and other teacher-related skills. The courses shall address current issues in education as well as innovative teaching practices.

          B. A school district may create a "teacher career academy program" for students who are interested in precollegiate activities.

          C. An eligible school may apply to the department for project funding for its teacher career academy program. Applications shall be in a form approved by the department and shall include the precollegiate activities to be offered, the number of students to be served and the eligible school's plan for evaluating the success of the teacher career academy program by tracking students throughout their public school and college careers and their employment status after college graduation. The department shall provide technical assistance to eligible public schools in developing funding proposals.

          D. The department shall establish criteria for awarding money to eligible schools through the competitive application process.

          E. Eligible schools that receive an award from the fund shall submit annual teacher career academy program reports to the department identifying the number and grade level of students enrolled in precollegiate activities, including the number of students concurrently enrolled in teaching courses and in which schools, the number of students enrolling in an accredited education program after their graduation from high school and the number of students entering the teaching profession."

     SECTION 5. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] FUND CREATED.--

          A. The "teacher career academy fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of money appropriated to the fund, earnings from investment of the fund, federal funds available for the purposes of the fund an gifts, grants and donations. The department shall administer the fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to carry out the purposes of the Teacher Career Academy Act. Money in the fund shall be expended upon warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary's authorized representative.

          B. The department may provide awards from the fund based on competitive applications from eligible schools. Awards shall be provided directly to the eligible school and the money shall be used solely for expenditures approved in the application."

     SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the teacher career academy fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2016 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the Teacher Career Academy Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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