45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO EDUCATION; REWARDING SCHOOLS FOR IMPROVED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] MERIT AWARDS.--

A. The department of education shall design a merit award program for elementary, middle and junior high schools. The department may promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this section.

B. Each year a merit award of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be awarded to one elementary, middle and junior high school. The merit award shall be distributed to the school that has achieved the greatest improvement in student achievement.

C. Each year a merit award of two thousand dollars ($2,000) shall be awarded to the top two percent of elementary, middle and junior high school teachers. The merit award shall be distributed to the teachers whose classes have achieved the greatest improvement in student achievement.

D. For purposes of this section, student achievement shall be measured by nationally standardized test scores and other criteria adopted by the department of education.

E. The provisions for the possibility of receiving a merit award shall be incorporated into a teacher's contract for the upcoming school year. The teacher's contract shall set forth standards for receipt of a merit award in compliance with the provisions of this act."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($850,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the state department of public education for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 to design and fund a merit award program for teachers and elementary, middle and junior high schools. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.