NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 24, HB 33, HB74, HB81, HJM5

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SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC)

LESC Report to the First Session of the 45^th Legislature

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 39 provides for the State Board of Education to assess teacher preparation programs.

Significant Issues

This bill amends Section 22-2-2 NMSA 1978, duties of the State Board of Education (SBE), by mandating that the SBE disapprove all college teacher education programs that fail to seek input from experts in the field when designing teacher of reading courses, disapprove all programs that fail to offer teaching of reading corses that are based on the most current research, disapprove all programs not aligned to the SBE's reading standards, and disapprove all programs that do not include strategies and assessment measures to ensure that all beginning teachers are proficient in teaching of reading.

According to the State Department of Education (SDE), the SBE's current competencies for teacher preparation in elementary education, secondary education, and special education include the areas of reading and literacy. Institutions of higher education, therefore, must include SBE approved reading and literacy courses. Additionally, the SBE's current competencies for all licensure areas are based on New Mexico's K-12 Content Standards and Benchmarks and upon other national standards.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

This bill would require the SBE to withhold approval of college teacher preparation programs which do not meet the SBE's teacher preparation reading course standards.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

The following bills relate to improving reading and literacy programs in New Mexico:

HB74 Funding for the Department of Education to provide funding for preschool reading readiness and parenting education

HB24 Statewide Early Childhood Programs

HB33 Even Start Family Literacy Program - for Department of Education to provide funding

for preschool reading readiness and parenting education

HB81 Includes proposed legislation that focuses on improved reading, writing, and literacy

skills

HJM 5 Monitor Statewide Reading Initiative

The 2000 Legislature passed a reading initiative and created the public school reading proficiency fund. The Legislature also appropriated $1.0 million to the fund which was then allocated by the State Department of Education (SDE) to school districts in the form of New Mexico Reading Improvement Initiative grants. House Bill 74 appropriates $1.0 million for use in FY02 for this purpose.

House Bill 74 also adds new language which requires schools receiving grant funds to prove that they are using quality, research based reading programs and for the SDE to develop criteria for schools to establish an individualized reading plan for students who fail to meet grade level reading proficiency standards.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Sections BB and CC of this bill contain language that may be construed to be vague, ambiguous and open to interpretation:

Section BB - New Mexico colleges must develop reading courses that are based on the most current research or face SBE disapproval of the institutions' teacher preparation program.

Section CC - New Mexico colleges must seek input from experts in the field prior to designing teaching of reading courses or face SBE disapproval of the institutions' teacher preparation program.

LG/ar:prr