HOUSE BILL 911

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

William "Bill" R. Rehm

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HAVE UNIFORM CURRICULA FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL AND SUBJECT AREA; REQUIRING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANTS TO BE ALIGNED WITH CURRICULA; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 22, Article 13 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] UNIFORM GRADE AND SUBJECT CURRICULA-- PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENT.--Each school district shall align its curricula for each grade level and subject area so that students who transfer between public schools within the school district receive the same educational opportunity within the same grade or subject area. Each school district shall align 2

professional development for classroom teachers and educational assistants to curricula."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Ten million five hundred thirty-five thousand four hundred dollars ($10,535,400) is appropriated from the general fund to the teacher professional development fund for expenditure in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 as follows:

                (1) in fiscal year 2008, expenditures from this appropriation shall be allocated to school districts to provide professional development based on two hundred dollars ($200) for each classroom teacher and one hundred dollars ($100) for each classroom educational assistant; and

                (2) in fiscal year 2009, expenditures from this appropriation shall be allocated to school districts to provide professional development based on two hundred dollars ($200) for each classroom teacher and one hundred dollars ($100) for each classroom educational assistant in school districts that have adopted uniform grade and subject curricula.

          B. This appropriation is to provide classroom teachers and educational assistants with professional development, and the money from this appropriation shall not be used for administrative costs of the department or school districts. No money from this appropriation shall be used for out-of-state conferences or meetings.

          C. The amounts specified in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of Subsection A of this section are not intended to limit professional development that is paid from sources other than this appropriation.

          D. Any unexpended or uncumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert to the general fund.

- 3 -