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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Taylor, J.G.

 

DATE TYPED:

2/25/03

 

HB

671

 

SHORT TITLE:

Dropout Prevention Programs

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$1,000.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Identical to SB 404, Dropout Prevention in Certain Counties

 

Relates to:  HB 672, Rio Grande HS Cluster Dropout Prevention

                   SB 582, Rio Grande HS Cluster Dropout Prevention (Identical to HB 672)

                   HB 246, CYFD Truancy Prevention Program

                   SB 606, At-Risk Youth Drug Demand Reduction Program

                   SB 758, OCA Dropout Prevention and Education Program

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

State Department of Education (SDE)

President, Rio Grande Educational Collaborative

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 671 appropriates $1,000.0 from the general fund to the State Department of Public Education to contract with a private nonprofit organization to establish dropout prevention programs at Valley, Los Lunas, Rio Grande, West Mesa and Bernalillo high schools in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties.

 

The bill contains an emergency clause.

 

     Significant Issues

 

This bill addresses the need to establish and sustain a multi-county, high school dropout prevention program.  The bill’s intent is consistent with multi-year efforts across the state to reduce the number of students leaving high school without earning a high school diploma.

 

The SDE’s DROPOUT STUDY, 2000-2001, published in November 2002, reports dropout rates for the high schools included in this bill as follows:

 

      Rio Grande High School                       14.8%

      Valley High School                               5.1%

      West Mesa High School                       3.6%

       Los Lunas High School                         2.1%

       Bernalillo High School               4.9%

 

 

The SDE’s reported dropout rates are at variance with those in the SDE analysis and the analysis provided by the Rio Grande Education Collaborative (RGEC).  The SDE analysis states the annual dropout rate for school year 2000-2001for RGHS was 17.1%, Valley High School (VHS) 7.3%, and West Mesa High School (WMHS) 5.3%.  Dropout rates for Los Lunas High School (LLHS) and Bernalillo High School (BHS) are not shown on the SDE analysis.

 

The information reported by the RGEC is also different from that in the SDE’s DROPOUT STUDY REPORT.  The dropout rate cited by the RGEC shows a 2000-2001 school year dropout rate of 17.2%. and cites a “plunge” in dropout rates to 6.8% in 2001-2002.  The SDE has not yet published dropout rates for 2001-2002.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $1,000.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The SDE would have to prepare guidelines and a request for proposals to implement the provisions of this bill.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. Why is the data cited by the analysis different?
  2. What nonprofit organizations exist that could submit a proposal to develop these dropout prevention programs?
  3. Is it the sponsor’s intent that one organization be contracted for the program or several?

 

LRB/njw