HOUSE BILL 435

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia Roybal Caballero

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PATHWAY PLANS; CREATING PATHWAYS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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] DEVELOPMENT OF PATHWAY PLANS.--

          A. School districts, the public education commission and community partners shall collaborate to develop pathway plans by gathering the following:

                (1) information on the need for pathways in a school district;

                (2) commitments from school administrators, teachers, parents, students and community partners for pathways in public schools;

                (3) assessment of a school district's ability to support pathways;

                (4) information on current school district programs upon which pathway programs may be developed;

                (5) information on expected student learning outcomes from potential pathways; and

                (6) information on school district resource needs for pathways and potential funding sources.

          B. Rural school districts may develop partnerships with surrounding school districts to prepare a regional pathway plan.

          C. School districts may pilot one or more pathway programs during the development of their pathway plans.  

          D. School districts and community partners shall report to the department on their pathway plans no later than January 1, 2020.

          E. As used in this section, "community partner" means an institution of higher learning, a local business, a union or a trade association.

          F. As used in this section, "pathway" means an educational instructional program that incorporates technical knowledge, skills and competency-based applied learning about an occupation or career specialty."

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

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CREATION OF PATHWAY PROGRAMS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS--ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHWAY PROGRAMS.--

          A. A school district shall assess the student interest, labor market trends and the available community resources before creating a pathway program.

          B. A school district, the public education commission and a community partner shall collaborate to create a pathway program within a public school's career and technical education curricula.

          C. Community partners shall volunteer and provide technical knowledge, skills and competency-based applied learning regarding their careers to interested middle or high school students.

          D. Middle or high school students may enroll in career and technical education and choose a pathway.  

          E. A school district shall annually review its pathways to determine if educational standards and expectations have been met and if additional pathways should be implemented.

          F. As used in this section, "community partner" means an institution of higher learning, a local business, a union or a trade association.

          G. As used in this section, "pathway" means an educational instructional program that incorporates technical knowledge, skills and competency-based applied learning about an occupation or career specialty."