NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only 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 for other purposes.

 

The most recent FIR version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative Website.  The Adobe PDF version includes all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Stewart M.

 

DATE TYPED:

3/18/03

 

HB

61/aHAFC

 

SHORT TITLE:

Extended Kindergarten Pilot Project

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Segura

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

 

Relates to HB 3, SB 485

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

State Department of Education (SDE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of HAFC Amendment

 

The House Appropriations and Finance Committee The amendment strikes the appropriation and appropriation language. The amendment does not change the original intent of the bill.

 

     Synopsis of Original Bill

 

House Bill 61 creates a three-year pilot project to extend the kindergarten year by four months for participating students to narrow the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and other students. The bill appropriates $1.000.0 to the State Department of Public Education.

 

     Significant Issues

 

According to SDE, Kindergarten Plus programs would address the literacy, numeracy and cognitive and social skills development of kindergarten students by providing forty instructional days, beginning approximately two months earlier and ending approximately two months later than other students.

 

The pilot project would by conducted in the Albuquerque, Gallup-McKinley, Gadsden, and Las Cruces public school districts.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

House Bill 61 appropriates $1,000.0 from the general fund and is recurring.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The SDE would establish eligibility and application requirements and procedures and criteria for evaluating applications. High poverty schools within those districts would be eligible to apply for funding through a competitive process.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

Senate Bill 845 and House Bill 3 contain an appropriation of $8,000.0 to fund the fourth year of  the five year plan to provide Full-Day Kindergarten in New Mexico. 

 

SDE indicates that the Full-day Kindergarten Literacy Readiness Program (FDK) is providing the critical foundation that many children need for future success.  First and second year analyses of program results indicate schools are making encouraging gains in meeting kindergarten New Mexico Content Standards, Benchmarks and Performance Standards in reading. Schools are reporting encouraging gains in pre-and post assessments, and children in the aggregate are better equipped to enter first grade.

 

SDE points out that the FDK program is an optional program for parents. Some parents may have a concern about the amount of time their children spend in school which could impact the intent of the legislation, namely, to address the achievement gap and the literacy, numeracy, and cognitive and social abilities of kindergarten children. Research indicates that time is a necessary but an insufficient condition for improving achievement. The crucial issue is how time is used, with quality of instruction being the key.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.   How will this program and appropriation impact the current phase-in of Full-Day Kindergarten?

 

RS/njw/ls