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

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/10/08

HB

SHORT TITLE High School Science & Math College Prep

SB 286

ANALYST Williams

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$40.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Related to SB 31, SB 90, SB 284, SB 285, HB 149

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

Luna Community College

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 286 appropriates $40 thousand from the General Fund to the Higher Education

Department for Luna Community College for the purpose of funding a technical preparatory

summer program to teach mathematics, science and technology skills to high school students

from the following high schools: Robertson, West Las Vegas, Santa Rosa, Springer, Maxwell,

Mora and Wagon Mound.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $40 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General

Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 09 shall revert to

the General Fund.

Senate Bill 286 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Luna Community College provides very similar information for this bill as that provided for SB

285, Luna College Youth College program. In 2007, 80 to 90 students participated in the

program. Luna Community College intends to increase the number of participants and offer

additional courses. The program currently has a reservation list for participation. Luna notes the

retention rates is 85 percent to 95 percent with student applying to return for a second or third

summer.

While Luna Community College requested funding in the Fall 2007 budget cycle for the Youth

College program (see SB 285), funding for the High School Science and Mathematics College

Preparation program was not requested. The January 2008 LFC report “Higher Education

Department Review of Selected Research and Public Service Projects" discusses best practices

for funding these types of projects.

HED notes “tech prep courses at Luna Community College are not aligned with the local public

schools and agreements about dual credit have not been arranged. The program takes place in

the summer; dual credit is currently not allowed in the summer."

PED notes a 2001 College Board report fond three factors influence access to and success in

college: predisposition to college, access to academic experiences of high quality and

postsecondary opportunity. “Programs that provide enrichment experiences or support services

can … help fill the gaps where the system fails."

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED notes in 2006-2007, only 25 percent of the student scored at the proficient or advanced

level on the New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA) in both grade 9 and 11.

Further, only 2 percent were advanced in grade 9 and only 3 percent in grade 11. Finally, of the

187 students who were reported as going on to college in New Mexico in 2006, 47 percent had to

take at least one remedial course.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

HED notes “as the Tech Prep program is currently designed, high school students could be faced

with taking the same course two times to receive corresponding high school and college credit."

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

HED indicates the Department “supports a more systematic approach through existing and future

mechanisms for early college admission. Further examination of alignment issues between Luna

Community College and the local public schools should be addressed."

ALTERNATIVES

HED notes “some of the courses could be offered on-site at the high schools, saving

transportation costs. Proposed dual credit revisions in Senate Bill 31 would create an alternative

for funding the Luna Community College Tech Prep summer program."

Senate Bill 286 – Page

3

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

What is the relationship of the proposed High School Science and Mathematics College

preparatory program in this bill to the Youth College program in Senate Bill 285.

2.

How would appropriated funds be budgeted and expended.

3.

To what extent are funds available from other sources.

4.

How would program outcomes be measured.

AW/mt