Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may 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 Nava

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/3/2007

HB

SHORT TITLE NMSU Regional Education Tech Assistance

SB 425

ANALYST McOlash

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$0.0

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Companion to SB 245.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 425 enacts a new section of Chapter 21, Article 8 NMSA 1978 pertaining to New

Mexico State University to create the Regional Educational Technology Center at the NMSU’s

College of Extended Learning. The bill requires the Center to provide technology integration

training into teaching and learning; professional dossier creation; use of data to drive instruction

to improve student learning outcomes; internet safety, online teaching and learning and technical

assistance; faculty development in integrating technology and distant learning tools; and imple-

menting the NM Learning Network.

The services provided shall be available to pre-kindergarten through college throughout the state.

The RETA Center shall prepare an annual report for the Legislature.

Senate Bill 425 – Page

2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The fiscal impact for SB425 is indeterminate. However, RETA has been funded an average

of $500,000 non-recurring dollars annually since 2003, and $400,000 in FY07.

The Executive recommendation includes $2,500.0 for the Teacher Professional Development

Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Initially, Gadsden Independent School District was awarded a Technology Innovation Challenge

Grant on behalf of a consortium that includes New Mexico's 89 school districts, high-tech busi-

nesses, non-profit organizations, and the following professional institutions:

•

New Mexico State University's College of Education

•

New Mexico State Department of Education

•

New Mexico Council on Technology in Education

•

U.S. Department of Education

•

Center for Children and Technology

The partners were chosen for their potential to collaborate in innovative teacher preparation and

professional development programs that will enable teachers to improve student learning through

the integration of technology with curricula.

In an evaluation report compiled by the PED in FY 05, RETA provided professional develop-

ment services to 2,231 educators representing 77 public schools and districts, four BIA schools,

one private school and two institutes of higher education through its statewide network of 60 in-

structors and three Regional Resource Centers.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The program has been and will continue to be administered by NMSU. Senate Bill 425, however,

creates a formal organization at this institution.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

A companion, Senate Bill 245 appropriates $600,000 to NMSU for the regional Educational

Technology Assistance (RETA) Program.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The PED states that RETA has an established record of quality professional development prod-

ucts that have supported New Mexico educators over the years. RETA has been defined as a

project/initiative and has been funded through the Teacher Professional Development Fund,

managed by the Public Education Department’s (PED), the past three years and prior to that re-

ceived other legislative appropriations through the PED. This approach makes funding RETA

vulnerable each year. By placing the RETA Center into statute, funding for the work of the cen-

Senate Bill 425 – Page

3

ter becomes more established. This provides an institutional route for funding this initiative

within NMSU’s budget.

BM/YR