HB0278

HOUSE BILL 278

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

Debra M. Sariñana and Yanira Gurrola and Susan K. Herrera

and Anthony Allison and Willie D. Madrid

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; REQUIRING COMPUTER SCIENCE TO BE EMBEDDED IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL SUBJECTS AND OFFERED AS A STANDALONE CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL; PROVIDING FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

SECTION 1. Section 22-13-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 153, Section 57, as amended by Laws 2016, Chapter 17, Section 1 and by Laws 2016, Chapter 18, Section 1) is amended to read:

"22-13-1. SUBJECT AREAS--MINIMUM INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS REQUIRED--ACCREDITATION.--

A. The department shall require public schools to address department-approved academic content and performance standards when instructing in specific department-required subject areas as provided in this section. A public school or school district failing to meet these minimum requirements shall not be accredited by the department.

B. All kindergarten through third grade classes shall provide daily instruction in reading and language arts skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics and comprehension, and in mathematics. Students in kindergarten and first grades shall be screened and monitored for progress in reading and language arts skills, and students in second grade shall take diagnostic tests on reading and language arts skills.

C. All first, second and third grade classes shall provide instruction in art, music and a language other than English, and instruction that meets content and performance standards shall be provided in science, social studies, physical education and health education.

D. In fourth through eighth grades, instruction that meets academic content and performance standards shall be provided in the following subject areas:

(1) reading and language arts skills, with an emphasis on writing and editing for at least one year and an emphasis on grammar and writing for at least one year;

(2) mathematics;

(3) language other than English;

(4) communication skills;

(5) science;

(6) art;

(7) music;

(8) social studies;

(9) New Mexico history;

(10) United States history;

(11) geography;

(12) physical education; and

(13) health education.

E. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, in eighth grade, algebra 1 shall be offered in regular classroom settings or through online courses or agreements with high schools.

F. In fourth through eighth grades, school districts shall offer electives that contribute to academic growth and skill development and provide career and technical education. In sixth through eighth grades, media literacy may be offered as an elective.

G. In ninth through twelfth grades, instruction that meets academic content and performance standards shall be provided in health education.

H. All health education courses shall include:

(1) age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention training that meets department standards developed in consultation with the federal centers for disease control and prevention that are based on evidence-based methods that have proven to be effective; and

(2) lifesaving skills training that follows nationally recognized guidelines for hands-on psychomotor skills cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. Students shall be trained to recognize the signs of a heart attack, use an automated external defibrillator and perform the Heimlich maneuver for choking victims. The secretary shall promulgate rules to provide for the:

(a) use of the following instructors for the training provided pursuant to this paragraph: 1) school nurses, health teachers and athletic department personnel as instructors; and 2) any qualified persons volunteering to provide training at no cost to the school district that the school district determines to be eligible to offer instruction pursuant to this paragraph; and

(b) approval of training and instructional materials related to the training established pursuant to this paragraph in both English and Spanish.

I. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, on the implementation schedule provided in Section 22-13-1.1 NMSA 1978, computer science shall be offered in public schools so that for elementary and middle schools, computer science shall be embedded in other subjects and for high school students, computer science shall be a standalone course."

SECTION 2. Section 22-13-1.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-13-1.1. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.--

A. At the end of grades eight through eleven, each student shall prepare an interim next-step plan that sets forth the coursework for the grades remaining until high school graduation. Each year's plan shall explain any differences from previous interim next-step plans, shall be filed with the principal of the student's high school and shall be signed by the student, the student's parent and the student's guidance counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student.

B. Each student must complete a final next-step plan during the senior year and prior to graduation. The plan shall be filed with the principal of the student's high school and shall be signed by the student, the student's parent and the student's guidance counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student.

C. An individualized education program that meets the requirements of Subsections A and B of this section and that meets all applicable transition and procedural requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for a student with a disability shall satisfy the next-step plan requirements of this section for that student.

D. A local school board shall ensure that each high school student has the opportunity to develop a next-step plan based on reports of college and workplace readiness assessments, as available, and other factors and is reasonably informed about:

(1) curricular and course options, including honors or advanced placement courses, dual-credit courses, distance learning courses, career clusters and career pathways, pre-apprenticeship programs or remediation programs that the college and workplace readiness assessments indicate to be appropriate;

(2) opportunities available that lead to different post-high-school options; and

(3) alternative opportunities available if the student does not finish a planned curriculum.

E. The secretary shall:

(1) establish specific accountability standards for administrators, counselors, teachers and school district staff to ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop a next-step plan;

(2) promulgate rules for accredited private schools in order to ensure substantial compliance with the provisions of this section;

(3) monitor compliance with the requirements of this section; and

(4) compile such information as is necessary to evaluate the success of next-step plans and report annually, by December 15, to the legislative education study committee and the governor.

F. Once a student has entered ninth grade, the graduation requirements shall not be changed for that student from the requirements specified in the law at the time the student entered ninth grade.

G. Successful completion of a minimum of twenty-three units aligned to the state academic content and performance standards shall be required for graduation. These units shall be as follows:

(1) four units in English, with major emphasis on grammar and literature;

(2) three units in mathematics, at least one of which is equivalent to the algebra 1 level or higher;

(3) two units in science, one of which shall have a laboratory component; provided, however, that with students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, three units in science shall be required, one of which shall have a laboratory component;

(4) three units in social science, which shall include United States history and geography, world history and geography and government and economics;

(5) one unit in physical education;

(6) one unit in communication skills or business education, with a major emphasis on writing and speaking and that may include a language other than English;

(7) one-half unit in New Mexico history for students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2005-2006 school year; and

(8) nine elective units and seven and one-half elective units for students entering the ninth grade in the 2005-2006 school year that meet department content and performance standards. Student service learning shall be offered as an elective. Financial literacy shall be offered as an elective. Pre-apprenticeship programs may be offered as electives. Media literacy may be offered as an elective.

H. For students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, at least one of the units required for graduation shall be earned as an advanced placement or honors course, a dual-credit course offered in cooperation with an institution of higher education or a distance learning course.

I. The department shall establish a procedure for students to be awarded credit through completion of specified career technical education courses for certain graduation requirements, and districts may choose to allow students who successfully complete an industry-recognized credential, certificate or degree to receive additional weight in the calculation of the student's grade point average.

J. Successful completion of the requirements of the New Mexico diploma of excellence shall be required for graduation for students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2009-2010 school year. Successful completion of a minimum of twenty-four units aligned to the state academic content and performance standards shall be required to earn a New Mexico diploma of excellence. These units shall be as follows:

(1) four units in English, with major emphasis on grammar, nonfiction writing and literature; provided that department-approved work-based training or career and technical education courses that meet state English academic content and performance standards shall qualify as one of the four required English units;

(2) four units in mathematics, of which one shall be the equivalent to or higher than the level of algebra 2, unless the parent submitted written, signed permission for the student to complete a lesser mathematics unit; and provided that a financial literacy course or department-approved work-based training or career and technical education course that meets state mathematics academic content and performance standards shall qualify as one of the four required mathematics units;

(3) three units in science, two of which shall have a laboratory component; provided that department-approved work-based training or career and technical education courses that meet state science academic content and performance standards shall qualify as one of the three required science units;

(4) three and one-half units in social science, which shall include United States history and geography, world history and geography, government and economics and one-half unit of New Mexico history;

(5) one unit in physical education, as determined by each school district, which may include a physical education program that meets state content and performance standards or participation in marching band, junior reserve officers' training corps or interscholastic sports sanctioned by the New Mexico activities association or any other co-curricular physical activity;

(6) one unit in one of the following: a career cluster course, workplace readiness or a language other than English; and

(7) seven and one-half elective units that meet department content and performance standards. Career and technical education courses shall be offered as an elective. Student service learning shall be offered as an elective. Financial literacy shall be offered as an elective. Pre-apprenticeship programs may be offered as electives. Media literacy may be offered as an elective.

K. For students entering the eighth grade in the 2012-2013 school year, a course in health education is required prior to graduation. Health education may be required in either middle school or high school, as determined by the school district. Each school district shall submit to the department by the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year a health education implementation plan for the 2012-2013 and subsequent school years, including in which grade health education will be required and how the course aligns with department content and performance standards. Health education courses shall include:

(b) approval of training and instructional materials related to the training established pursuant to this paragraph in both English and Spanish.

L. For students entering the ninth grade in the 2017-2018 school year and subsequent school years:

(1) one of the units in mathematics required by Paragraph (2) of Subsection J of this section may comprise a computer science course if taken after the student demonstrates competence in mathematics and if the course is not used to satisfy any part of the requirement set forth in Paragraph (3) of that subsection; and

(2) one of the units in science required by Paragraph (3) of Subsection J of this section may comprise a computer science course if taken after the student demonstrates competence in science and if the course is not used to satisfy any part of the requirement set forth in Paragraph (2) of that subsection.

M. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, all school districts shall offer at least one computer science course in at least one high school; in the 2026-2027 school year, at least one computer science course shall be offered in at least one-half of all high schools; and in the 2027-2028 school year, at least one computer science course shall be offered in every high school in the school district. Computer science courses shall:

(1) meet the academic content and performance standards for computer science; and

(2) be offered in an in-person setting and be offered as a virtual or distance course option only when a traditional classroom setting is not feasible.

[M.] N. Final examinations shall be administered to all students in all classes offered for credit.

[N.] O. Until July 1, 2010, a student who has not passed a state graduation examination in the subject areas of reading, English, mathematics, writing, science and social science shall not receive a high school diploma. The state graduation examination on social science shall include a section on the constitution of the United States and the constitution of New Mexico. If a student exits from the school system at the end of grade twelve without having passed a state graduation examination, the student shall receive an appropriate state certificate indicating the number of credits earned and the grade completed. If within five years after a student exits from the school system the student takes and passes the state graduation examination, the student may receive a high school diploma. Any student passing the state graduation examination and completing all other requirements within five years of entering ninth grade, including a final summer session if completed by August 1, may be counted by the school system in which the student is enrolled as a high school graduate for the year in which completion and examination occur.

[O.] P. Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a student shall not receive a New Mexico diploma of excellence if the student has not demonstrated competence in the subject areas of mathematics, reading and language arts, writing, social studies and science, including a section on the constitution of the United States and the constitution of

New Mexico, based on a standards-based assessment or assessments or a portfolio of standards-based indicators established by the department by rule. The standards-based assessments required in Section 22-2C-4 NMSA 1978 may also serve as the assessment required for high school graduation. If a student exits from the school system at the end of grade twelve without having satisfied the requirements of this subsection, the student shall receive an appropriate state certificate indicating the number of credits earned and the grade completed. If within five years after a student exits from the school system the student satisfies the requirements of this subsection, the student may receive a New Mexico diploma of excellence. Any student satisfying the requirements of this subsection and completing all other requirements within five years of entering ninth grade, including a final summer session if completed by August 1, may be counted by the school system in which the student is enrolled as a high school graduate for the year in which all requirements are satisfied.

[P.] Q. As used in this section:

(1) "career and technical education", sometimes referred to as "vocational education", means organized programs offering a sequence of courses, including technical education and applied technology education, that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for paid or unpaid employment in current or emerging occupations requiring an industry-recognized credential, certificate or degree;

(2) "career and technical education course" means a course with content that provides technical knowledge, skills and competency-based applied learning and that aligns with educational standards and expectations as defined in rule;

(3) "career cluster" means a grouping of occupations in industry sectors based on recognized commonalities that provide an organizing tool for developing instruction within the educational system;

(4) "career pathways" means a sub-grouping used as an organizing tool for curriculum design and instruction of occupations and career specialities that share a set of common knowledge and skills for career success;

(5) "final next-step plan" means a next-step plan that shows that the student has committed or intends to commit in the near future to a four-year college or university, a two-year college, a trade or vocational program, an internship or apprenticeship, military service or a job;

(6) "interim next-step plan" means an annual next-step plan in which the student specifies post-high-school goals and sets forth the coursework that will allow the student to achieve those goals; and

(7) "next-step plan" means an annual personal written plan of studies developed by a student in a public school or other state-supported school or institution in consultation with the student's parent and school counselor or other school official charged with coursework planning for the student that includes one or more of the following:

(a) advanced placement or honors courses;

(b) dual-credit courses offered in cooperation with an institution of higher education;

(d) career-technical courses; and

(e) pre-apprenticeship programs.

[Q.] R. The secretary may establish a policy to provide for administrative interpretations to clarify curricular and testing provisions of the Public School Code."

SECTION 3. A new section of the Public School Code, Section 22-13-1.8 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:

"22-13-1.8. [NEW MATERIAL] COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES--PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.--

A. As used in this section:

(1) "computer science" means the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including principles, hardware and software designs, implementation and effects on society; and

(2) "computer science course" means:

(a) a standalone course in high school; and

(b) computer science embedded in other subjects in elementary and middle school.

B. High school computer science courses shall:

(1) meet department academic content and performance standards; and

(2) focus on teaching students how to create new technologies and not simply how to use existing technology.

C. Beginning with operating budgets submitted by April 15, 2025, each school district and charter school shall include a report of the past year and the upcoming school year that includes the following:

(1) the names and course codes of computer science courses offered in each high school, including a course description and which state computer science academic content and performance standards are covered, to the extent such information is available;

(2) the number and percentage of students who enrolled in a computer science course in the previous school year and the number and percentage of students estimated to enroll in a computer science course, disaggregated by:

(a) gender;

(b) race or ethnicity;

(c) special education status, including students under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or federal Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

(d) English language learner status;

(e) eligibility for free or reduced-price meals; and

(f) grade level; and

(3) the number of computer science teachers at each high school, disaggregated by:

(a) licensure and endorsement;

(b) gender;

(d) highest academic degree.

D. In disaggregating data, the confidentiality of personally identifiable student and teacher data shall be safeguarded consistent with the requirements of state and federal law.

E. The department shall post on its website on or before June 30 of each year the data received, disaggregated by public school and aggregated at the state level. The department shall publish a list of computer science course codes and names, including a course description and which courses align to the state computer science academic content and performance standards.

F. To increase the number and expertise of computer science teachers in the public schools, the department shall implement a statewide program for computer science professional development through appropriate delivery methods and shall use the academic and technical resources of public post-secondary educational institutions and other computer experts to design and deliver professional development that:

(1) clarifies the conceptual foundations of computer science;

(2) teaches research-based practices, including hands-on and inquiry-based learning; and

(3) is intended for existing teachers with or without prior exposure to computer science.

G. The department shall provide by rule for the qualifications of approved providers and courses."

SECTION 4. A new section of the Public School Code, Section 22-13-1.9 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:

"22-13-1.9. [NEW MATERIAL] COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM FUND--CREATION--DISTRIBUTIONS--ELIGIBLE ENTITIES--ELIGIBLE FUNDING USES--APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS--PRIORITIES FOR AWARDS--REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.--

A. The "computer science program fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. The department shall administer the fund, and money in the

fund is subject to appropriation. Expenditures from the fund shall be by warrants signed by the secretary of finance and

administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary's authorized representative.

B. Grant amounts shall be determined by available funding and grant applications. Funds from the computer science program fund shall be distributed to the following entities to develop and implement teacher professional development programs for computer science courses and content:

(1) school districts or state-chartered charter schools;

(2) public post-secondary educational institutions; and

(3) regional education cooperatives.

C. The department may provide grants in accordance with Subsection B of this section for the following purposes:

(1) high-quality professional development programs for graduated teaching skills through grade levels, beginning in elementary and middle schools with embedding computer science in other subjects to and ending with standalone computer science classes taught in high school;

(2) credentialing programs for computer science teachers, including career and technical education and academic supplemental endorsements, with the initial focus on credentials for high school computer science teachers;

(3) the provision of mentoring and coaching;

(4) resource development to support implementation, including a computer science resource bank; or

(5) student recruitment.

D. Applications shall be submitted to the department in the form and manner provided by the department. The application shall address how the applicant will use the grant to:

(1) educate teachers with minimal computer science background;

(2) use research- or evidence-based practices for high-quality professional development;

(3) focus the professional development on the conceptual foundations of computer science;

(4) provide teachers with concrete experience with hands-on, inquiry-based practices;

(5) accommodate the particular teachers' and students' needs in each school district and school; and

(6) ensure that participating school districts begin offering the courses or content within the same or next school year after the teacher receives the computer science professional development.

E. The department shall prioritize the following applications:

(1) school districts or state-chartered charter schools that are working with providers of high-quality professional development for kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science;

(2) proposals that describe strategies to enroll females and underrepresented minorities, students eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch, students with disabilities and English language learners; or

(3) proposals from rural or urban areas with a low concentration of kindergarten through twelfth grade computer science offerings, including local education agencies that partner to form clusters of implementation.

F. Each award recipient shall report annually to the department the following information:

(1) the number of teachers prepared;

(2) the number of students who participated in computer science classes;

(3) the gender, racial and socioeconomic diversity of those students;

(4) the number and diversity of students with passing advanced placement examination scores for high school courses once that data is available;

(5) the number of teachers that started implementing computer science in middle and high schools versus the number of prepared teachers that attended professional development;

(6) agendas from trainings or events; and

(7) a summary of which schools were represented at a training or event."

SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION.--One million one hundred thousand dollars ($1,100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the computer science program fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2025 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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