HOUSE BILL 211

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

G. Andres Romero and Bill McCamley and Christine Trujillo

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; REQUIRING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS; REQUIRING THE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARDS; REQUIRING REPORTING.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-2C-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-2C-3. ACADEMIC CONTENT AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS-- DEPARTMENT POWERS AND DUTIES.--

          A. The department shall adopt academic content and performance standards for grades one through twelve in the following areas:

                (1) mathematics;

                (2) reading and language arts;

                (3) science; and

                (4) social studies.

          B. By August 31, 2017, the department shall adopt the next generation science standards developed by the national research council of the national academy of sciences, the national science teachers association, the American association for the advancement of science and achieve. By July 31, 2018, the department shall begin to develop a plan, adopt and promulgate rules and report on the next generation science standards pursuant to this subsection and the implementation plan to the legislative education study committee. Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, each school district and charter school shall begin to implement the next generation science standards pursuant to this section.

          [B.] C. The department may adopt content and performance standards in other subject areas.

          [C.] D. Academic content and performance standards shall be sufficiently academically challenging to meet or exceed any applicable federal requirements.

          [D.] E. The department shall measure the performance of every public school in New Mexico."

     SECTION 2. Section 22-15E-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 44, Section 5 and Laws 2007, Chapter 239, Section 5) is amended to read:

     "22-15E-5. COUNCIL DUTIES.--The council shall:

          A. advise the bureau on implementation of the bureau's duties pursuant to the Mathematics and Science Education Act;

          B. make recommendations to the bureau and the department regarding the statewide strategic plan for improving mathematics and science education and advise on its implementation and incorporation into the department's five-year strategic plan for public elementary and secondary education in the state;

          C. make recommendations to and advise the bureau, the department and the legislature on the best practices for the department's implementation of the next generation science standards pursuant to Section 22-2C-3 NMSA 1978 and to advise the department during the implementation;

          [C.] D. advise the bureau, the department and the legislature regarding appropriations for mathematics and science education, administration, resources and services, including programs for public school students and staff;

          [D.] E. work with the bureau to determine the need for improvement in mathematics and science achievement of public school students and make recommendations to the department on how to meet these needs; and

          [E.] F. produce an annual report on public elementary and secondary mathematics and science student achievement to be submitted to the department, the governor and the legislature no later than November 30 of each year."

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