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

SPONSOR Nava

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/29/08

HB

SHORT TITLE NM Tech Math & Science Career Preparation

SB 456

ANALYST Cox

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$100.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Higher Education - HED

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 456 appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Board of Regents at the

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech) for expenditure in FY09 for

expenses related to enrolling seven public school teachers who teach mathematics and science in

a twenty-month Masters of Science teaching program

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

This request was not submitted by NM Tech to the New Mexico Higher Education Department

(NMHED) for review and is not included in the Department’s funding recommendation for

FY09.

The appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) contained in this bill is a recurring

expense to the General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of

Fiscal Year 2009 shall revert to the General Fund.

Senate Bill 456 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HED states:

New Mexico faces enormous challenges in providing a high quality math and science education

to students at every level from kindergarten through college. According to the 2005 National

Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 25% of United States 8th graders were proficient

in science. In New Mexico, only 16% of 8th graders were proficient in science, well below the

national average. Research indicates that stronger student preparation in math and the sciences is

necessary for students in the United States to obtain jobs leading to the nation’s competitiveness

in the global economy. Educators in New Mexico would be better prepared to give students a

solid foundation in math, science, and engineering if they had the necessary training to guide

students towards a postsecondary education in these fields. SB456 encourages the professional

development of public school teachers by increasing access to advanced training in math and

science through financial support of a graduate degree in science.

The funds appropriated by SB456, NM Tech Math and Science Career Preparation legislation,

helps New Mexico school districts comply with the ‘No Child Left Behind’ mandate by

providing access to specialized professional development for teachers that emphasizes math and

science learning for all New Mexico students.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

SB456 relates to:

.

SB144: New Mexico Science and Math Outreach Programs

.

SB101: NMSU School Science Teacher Enhancement

.

HB64: NM Tech Math and Science Career Preparation

.

HB407: Belen Teacher Training

PRC/mt