HOUSE BILL 219

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

G. Andrés Romero and Linda M. Lopez

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; ADDING A NEW PRIORITY FOR K-5 PLUS PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY; ALLOWING CERTAIN DEPARTMENT-APPROVED PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION TIME THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-8-23.10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 206, Section 16 and Laws 2019, Chapter 207, Section 16) is amended to read:

     "22-8-23.10. EXTENDED LEARNING TIME PROGRAM.--

          A. A school district or charter school is eligible for additional program units if it establishes within its department-approved educational plan an extended learning time program that meets the requirements of Subsection B, C or D of this section.

          B. An extended learning time program shall include:

                (1) a minimum of one hundred ninety days per school year, with at least five and one-half instructional hours per instructional day for kindergarten through sixth grade and at least six instructional hours per day for seventh through twelfth grade;

                (2) after-school program opportunities for academic learning or extracurricular enrichment to students that do not supplant federally funded programs; and

                (3) a minimum of eighty noninstructional hours per school year for professional development for instructional staff.

          C. An extended learning time program in a school district operating a four-day school week in fiscal year 2019 or in a school district with fewer than one thousand MEM operating a four-day school week shall include:

                (1) a minimum of one hundred sixty days per school year with at least six and one-half hours per instructional day for kindergarten through sixth grade and at least seven instructional hours per instructional day for seventh through twelfth grade;

                (2) after-school program opportunities for academic learning or extracurricular enrichment to students that do not supplant federally funded programs; and

                (3) a minimum of eighty noninstructional hours per school year for professional development for instructional staff.

          D. With department approval, an elementary school that has an extended learning time program that qualifies for extended learning time program units pursuant to Subsection B or C of this section that also has a qualifying K-5 plus program or department-approved program that provides the equivalent number of hours pursuant to the K-5 Plus Act may structure the school year to provide the additional instructional time required pursuant to the applicable subsection of this section by extending existing instructional days.

          E. The number of additional units to which a school district or charter school is entitled under this section is computed in the following manner:

MEM x 0.11."SECTION 2. Section 22-13D-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 206, Section 3 and Laws 2019, Chapter 207, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "22-13D-2. K-5 PLUS--ELIGIBILITY--REQUIREMENTS.--

          A. A school district or charter school may apply to participate in the K-5 plus program and is eligible to receive program units for students enrolled in elementary schools approved by the department to participate in the K-5 plus program. In approving schools for participation in K-5 plus, the department shall prioritize elementary schools:

                (1) in which eighty percent or more of the elementary school's students are eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch;

                (2) that are low-performing elementary schools;

                (3) that participated in the 2018 K-3 plus or K-5 plus program; [and]

                (4) that meet criteria established by department rule; and

                (5) that provide no fewer than twenty-five additional instructional days through extended school hours or days.

          B. Each K-5 plus program shall:

                (1) provide no fewer than twenty-five additional instructional days prior to the start of the regular school year or a department-approved program that provides the equivalent number of hours;

                (2) keep students that participate in the K-5 plus program with the same teacher and cohort of students during the regular school year;

                (3) include additional professional development for K-5 plus teachers in how young children learn to read; and

                (4) be implemented school-wide.

          C. An elementary school is ineligible for K-5 plus program units if it fails to meet the requirements of Subsection B of this section."

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