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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education

LFC

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee Amendment addresses the technical issues noted by SDE.

Synopsis of Bill

The bill appropriates $100.0 from the general fund to the State Department of Education (SDE) for expenditure in FY 2000 for the purpose of developing curricula relating to citizen participation in government. This includes teacher training and a provision to provide assistance to students participating in programs that develop students' awareness of the US Constitution.

Any unencumbered balance remaining at the end of the fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

According to SDE, the development of curriculum for NM schools is a local responsibility and the State Board of Education (SBE) and SDE support the responsibility.

The proposed curricula would need to be a "model" curriculum to support the NM Social Studies Content Standards and Benchmarks adopted by SBE in November, 1966.

There are no grade levels or teacher specifications contained in the legislation and therefore K-12 programs would be targeted.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This legislation would create a new project for SDE to oversee. Staff time would be required to initiate a contract, budget, review and verify reimbursement claims and/or cash requests and process voucher payments. SDE indicates that the current staff can handle the project.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

Relates to SB 110; HB435 and the Public School Support Package includes an appropriation for professional development.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

This project needs to include an evaluation of curricula materials and follow-up to determine the adequacy and usefulness to teachers in classroom instruction and impact on students participating in programs relating to the US Constitution.

SDE suggests the following amendments:

In Section 1, page 1, line 18, insert the word "model" after the word "developing".

In Section 1, page 1, line 18, insert the words "based on the New Mexico Social Studies Content Standards and Benchmarks" after the word "curricula".

CF:BD/njw