44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

ALLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS OPEN LONGER TO OFFER CLASSES IN THE EVENING HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS.

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

Section 1. Section 22-2-8.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-2-8.1. LENGTH OF SCHOOL DAY--MINIMUM.--

A. Regular students shall be in school-directed programs, exclusive of lunch, for a minimum of the following:

(1) kindergarten, two and one-half hours per day or four hundred fifty hours per year;

(2) grades one through six, five and one-half hours per day or nine hundred ninety hours per year; and

(3) grades seven through twelve, six hours per day or one thousand eighty hours per year.

B. Nothing in this section precludes a local school board from setting length of school days in excess of the minimum requirements established by Subsection A of this section or from offering extended instructional hours during the regular school day, evenings or weekends to offer additional or alternative instructional programs to meet the needs of the school district.

C. The state superintendent may waive the minimum length of school days in those districts where such minimums would create undue hardships as defined by the state board."