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| SPONSOR: | Nava | DATE TYPED: | 02/22/99 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Early Literacy Program | SB | 242 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Fernandez | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY99 | FY2000 | FY99 | FY2000 | ||
| $ 5,000.0 | Recurring | GF | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to SB 230, SB3/aSEC and HB3/aHEC
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
State Department of Public Education (SDE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 242 enacts a new section of the Public School Code to provide an early literacy program for students from kindergarten through second grade that are not reading at grade level.
Significant Issues
School districts must follow a program approval process and address specific program elements for students before or after school or on weekends. A school district's application must include a family involvement component that is based on family support principles.
An approved literacy program shall consist of a minimum of 90 hours of instruction per academic year for kindergarten students and a minimum of 180 hours of instruction per academic year for students in first and second grade.
Approved literacy programs shall demonstrate the following components: engaging and abundant literacy materials appropriate to the age of the students; effective instructional techniques that incorporate the most recent research in teaching reading; thorough integration of reading and writing activities; training for teachers and parents; and annual pre- and post-program assessments for students that delineate outcomes.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Early literacy program units will be determined by multiplying the early literacy program MEM by the cost differential factor of .03.
Senate bill 242 appropriates $5,000.0 from the general fund to SDE for expenditure in fiscal year 2000 to fund early literacy programs in the public schools. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.
CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP
Included in SB3/aSEC and HB3/aHEC are appropriations of $15,000.0 to fund additional preschool and literacy programs to meet developmental and literacy needs of children age three through grade two. Such programs may include full-day kindergarten, half-day, summer or transition programs for children ages three through five or intensive literacy programs for students in kindergarten through second grade to ensure that all children are reading by the time they enter grade three.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
SDE indicates that in order to ensure that early literacy program units are included in the calculation of program cost, Section 22-8-19 NMSA 1978 should be amended to add the following:
C. The number of early literacy program units is determined by multiplying the early literacy program MEM by the cost differential factor .03.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
CTF/gm