NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature. The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.
The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.
Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Room 416 of the State Capitol Building.
| SPONSOR: | Gonzales | DATE TYPED: | 02/18/99 | HB | 252 | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Four Skills Exam | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Fernandez | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY99 | FY2000 | FY99 | FY2000 | ||
| $ 116.0 | Recurring | GF | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
State Department of Public Education (SDE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
This bill appropriates $116.0 for administration and scoring of the new four skills examination, to certify proficiency in the Spanish language for the endorsement of teachers in bilingual education.
Significant Issues
According to SDE, a new exam has been developed to certify proficiency in Spanish for an endorsement to a teaching license in bilingual education. The new exam tests all four-language skills and will be administered for the first time this spring in Albuquerque. SDE indicates that approximately 750 teachers have taken the test annually to fulfill requirements for an endorsement to their teaching license in bilingual education.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
House Bill 252 appropriates $116.0 from the general fund to administer and score the new four skills examination. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.
SDE indicates that the funds will be for the following: the purchase of additional language laboratories; reproduction and dissemination of test materials; mailing of the exams; administration of the exam; scoring of the exam; and the maintenance of a database.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
SDE bilingual education staff are currently assigned to oversee, monitor and revise the exam in order to maintain validity and reliability.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
According to SDE, Educational Testing Services (ETS) has recommended that the exam be administered under standard conditions in order to ensure its reliability and validity. SDE will use a portable language laboratory to ensure the test is administered under standard conditions.
CTF/gm