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.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HFl #1 Amendment

House Floor Amendment No. 1 simply expands the scope of study the bill proposes, expanding the study committee's plan to include teacher training.

Synopsis of Original Bill

HJM 31 requests that the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) and the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee study the issues of compensation and retention of early childhood education and family support professionals. The LESC is directed to convene a workgroup to review models and develop a plan to increase the compensation of early childhood professionals. The workgroup composition of early childhood educators and professionals shall include representatives from the following:

• •New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children,
• •New Mexico Child Care Association,
• •Families,
• •Head Start Staff,
• •Training and technical assistance program staff,
• •New Mexico Advocates for Children and Families,
• •New Mexico Early Childhood Higher Education Task Force,
• •United Way of Central New Mexico,
• •Success by Six Initiative,
• •Albuquerque Child Care Round Table,
• •Family Support New Mexico,
• •Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD),
• •State Department of Education (SDE), and
• •Department of Health (DOH).

The findings from this workgroup shall be reported to both these committees by October 1, 2001.

Significant Issues

According to SDE, the average salary in 1999-2000 for educational assistants, pre-school teachers and kindergarten teachers in the public schools of New Mexico was $11,591.00, $29,183.00 and $32,873.00 respectively (SDE, Data Collection and Reporting Unit). HJM 31 directs the study to review the compensation of early childhood professionals and family support workers so that "their salaries are moving toward being commensurate with professionals who have an equivalent education in other fields."

FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

SDE reports that the only fiscal and administrative impact this study would have on the agency would be the staff time spent engaged in this study.

RELATIONSHIP

HJM 31 relates to HB 8 (Public Employees Salary Increase), HB 24 (Statewide Early Childhood Programs), HB33 (Even Start), HB 47 (Mentorship for Beginning Teachers), HB 179 (Bernalillo After-School Learning Services), HB 270 (NMSU Pilot Child-Care Center), HB 343 (Increase State Minimum Wage), SB40 (Even Start), SB 68 (Public Employee Salary Increase), SM 2 (Allow Employees to Unionize) and HJM 16 (Early Literacy in Day Care).

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Office of Child Development within the CYFD is currently preparing a study of compensation levels compared to cost of living for personnel in child care centers, Head Start, Early Intervention and public school programs(birth to third grade).

RJM/njw:ar