SENATE BILL

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Siah Hemphill

 

 

 

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS; PROVIDING AN ENROLLMENT PREFERENCE

FOR STUDENTS WHOSE PARENTS ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-8B-4.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2000, Chapter 82, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "22-8B-4.1. CHARTER SCHOOLS' ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES.--

          A. Start-up schools and conversion schools are subject to the following enrollment procedures:

                (1) a start-up school may either enroll students on a first-come, first-served basis or through a lottery selection process if the total number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available at the start-up school; and

                (2) a conversion school shall give enrollment preference to students who are enrolled in the public school at the time it is converted into a charter school and to siblings of students admitted to or attending the charter school. The conversion school may either enroll all other students on a first-come, first-served basis or through a lottery selection process if the total number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available at the conversion school.

          B. In subsequent years of its operation, a charter school shall give enrollment preference to:

                (1) students who have been admitted to the charter school through an appropriate admission process and remain in attendance through subsequent grades; [and]

                (2) children of employees employed by the charter school; and

                [(2)] (3) siblings of students already admitted to or attending the same charter school."

     SECTION 2. APPLICABILITY.--The provisions of this act apply to the 2021-2022 school year and subsequent school years.

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2021.

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