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 House Bills 20, 21, 82, 269, 398, 428, and Senate Bills 4, 31, 38, 54, 307, 312, & 336

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 543 appropriates $250.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMIMT) to implement a leadership and motivational training program for New Mexican Latino youth, particularly for students from rural and disadvantaged environments.

Significant Issues

Extended workshops and training camps would be conducted for Latino high school students prior to their senior year with the following goals:

• •Identify and assist Latino high school students with leadership potential to participate in culturally appropriate leadership and motivational programs;

• •Create and conduct college planning and financial preparation programs for Latino high school students, particularly students from rural and disadvantaged environments, and their parents or guardians;
• •Identify, coordinate, marshal and disseminate information about public and private resources in order to extend specialized training and preparation to and for Latino high school students in order to promote and facilitate their successful participation in college and university screening tests and examinations, including the scholastic aptitude test and the American college test; and
• •Work with school districts that have rural and disadvantaged student populations to provide continuous coordinated funding and program initiatives that include outreach components for Latino high school students.

According to the State Department of Education (SDE), President Daniel H. Lopez of the NMIMT states that this program will target 100 Latino students from rural communities with a grade point average of 3.0 or better during their junior year of high school.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY02 shall revert to the general fund.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 307 and House Bill 82 - section 7A of these bills appropriates $4.1 million from the general fund to pay teachers to teach intensive summer education programs for students in need of assistance.

Senate Bill 312 and House Bill 398 require the SDE to establish a "dropout prevention pilot program" at ten public high schools with the highest dropout rates.

House Bill 20 and Senate Bill 38 appropriates $500.0 to NMSU to develop math & science skills for border region students.

Senate Bill 336 appropriates $230.0 to the Commission on Higher Education to help high school students develop math, science and engineering expertise.

House Bill 21 appropriates $100.0 to New Mexico State University to increase participation in the programs of two organizations New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation (NMAMP) and the Regional Alliance for Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology for Students with Disabilities (RASEM). These programs are committed to improving student preparation for successful post-secondary math, science, engineering, and technology study.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program currently works with high school students (minority students represent a significant percentage of the NM MESA participants) throughout New Mexico to enhance their academic success and prepare them to enter post-secondary programs in technical fields.

According to the SDE, research conducted by E. Seymour at the University of CO at Boulder has produced findings that indicate a disproportionate number of minority undergraduates leave science, mathematics and engineering majors early in their university careers while early preparation for these academic programs during high school has a significant impact on stemming these attrition rates. (Thinking of Leaving: Attrition in Undergraduate Science, Mathematics and Engineering Programs)

The following is provided for information only. It is not intended as a commentary on the merits of the program/project:

This program was not included in NMIMT's budget request to the NMIMT Board of Regents, and thus was not submitted by NMIMT to the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) for review. The CHE did not recommend funding this program expansion.

LG/ar