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

RELATING TO EDUCATION; ENACTING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CHARTER PRE-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PILOT ACT; 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] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Early Childhood Charter Pre-School Partnership Pilot Act"."

Section 2. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the Early Childhood Charter Pre-School Partnership Pilot Act is to determine the efficacy of providing high quality pre-school learning opportunities for children ages three and four to enhance oral language and early literacy skills and establish a strong foundation for reading and literacy. The pilot program shall determine the efficacy of providing developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children and parenting education that teaches parents methods and experiences that foster reading."

Section 3. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Early Childhood Charter Pre-School Partnership Pilot Act:

A. "eligible charter pre-school" means an early childhood service provider partnership program for three- and four-year-old children that includes both a public school and a private early childhood service provider;

B. "pre-school learning opportunities" means activities that use current scientifically based research in early literacy and early childhood education; and

C. "pilot program" means the early childhood charter pre-school partnership pilot program."

Section 4. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] EARLY CHILDHOOD CHARTER PRE-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM--DEPARTMENT DUTIES.--

A. The department of education shall establish guidelines and administer the pilot program for children ages three and four.

B. The department of education shall award funding to five eligible charter pre-schools in fiscal year 2002, during which the department shall measure the efficacy of providing high quality pre-school learning opportunities for children ages three and four.

C. The department of education shall determine the methods for eligible charter pre-schools to apply for funding through the pilot program and methods for distributing the funding to eligible charter pre-schools through the school district.

D. The department of education shall issue a request for proposals pursuant to the provisions of the Procurement Code for eligible charter pre-schools to apply for participation in the pilot program.

E. The department of education shall monitor the pilot program through student assessments and budget reviews.

F. At the end of fiscal year 2002, the department of education shall report to the legislature on the efficacy of the pilot program."

Section 5. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] EARLY CHILDHOOD CHARTER PRE-SCHOOL-- ELIGIBILITY--DUTIES.--To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, an eligible charter pre-school shall:

A. provide pre-school learning opportunities that support the state board's language arts performance standards for kindergarten and first grade;

B. submit an application to the department of education describing the enhanced pre-school learning opportunities, the children to be served and the funds to be expended for materials and other costs associated with the activities;

C. provide pre-school learning opportunities that are of sufficient duration to ensure sustainable and demonstrable results and that are based on scientific reading research; and

D. administer to the participating three- and four-year-old students developmentally appropriate pre- and post-assessments as determined by the department of education."

Section 6. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] SCHOOL DISTRICT--DUTIES.--The school district shall be responsible for fiscal accountability of the pilot program."

Section 7. APPROPRIATION.--Six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the state department of public education for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 to carry out the provisions of the Early Childhood Charter Pre-School Partnership Pilot Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.