RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMPLEMENT FLEXIBLE SCHOOL CALENDARS; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978.

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

Section 1. Section 22-8-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 63, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-8-9. BUDGETS--MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.--

A. No budget for a school district shall be approved by the department of education that does not provide for:

(1) a school year consisting of at least one hundred eighty full instructional days or the equivalent thereof, exclusive of any release time for in-service training; or

(2) a variable school year consisting of a minimum number of instructional hours established by the state board; and

(3) a pupil-teacher ratio or class or teaching load as provided in Section 22-2-8.2 NMSA 1978.

B. The state board shall, by regulation, establish the requirements for a teaching day, the standards for an instructional hour and the standards for a full-time certified school instructor and for the equivalent thereof.

C. The local school board shall submit a plan for the implementation of an alternate school year to the state superintendent for his approval."

HB 35

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