SENATE BILL 11

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; CLARIFYING SCHOOL LUNCH RECESS PERIOD REQUIREMENTS.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-2-8.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 33, Section 2, as amended by Laws 2011, Chapter 35, Section 1 and by Laws 2011, Chapter 154, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "22-2-8.1. SCHOOL YEAR--LENGTH OF SCHOOL DAY--MINIMUM.--

          A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, regular students shall be in school-directed programs, exclusive of lunch, for a minimum of the following:

                (1) kindergarten, for half-day programs, two and one-half hours per day or four hundred fifty hours per year or, for full-day programs, five and one-half hours per day or nine hundred ninety hours per year;

                (2) grades one through six, five and one-half hours per day or nine hundred ninety hours per year; and

                (3) grades seven through twelve, six hours per day or one thousand eighty hours per year.

          B. Up to thirty-three hours of the full-day kindergarten program may be used for home visits by the teacher or for parent-teacher conferences. Up to twenty-two hours of grades one through six programs may be used for home visits by the teacher or for parent-teacher conferences. Up to twelve hours of grades seven through twelve programs may be used to consult with parents to develop [next step] next-step plans for students and for parent-teacher conferences.

          C. The last thirty minutes of the lunch recess period established by each school district and each charter school shall be used for the sole purpose of meal consumption.

          [C.] D. Nothing in this section precludes a local school board from setting a school year or the length of school days in excess of the minimum requirements established by Subsection A of this section.

          [D.] E. The secretary may waive the minimum length of school days in those school districts where such minimums would create undue hardships as defined by the department as long as the school year is adjusted to ensure that students in those school districts receive the same total instructional time as other students in the state.

          [E.] F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, provided that instruction occurs simultaneously, time when breakfast is served or consumed pursuant to a state or federal program shall be deemed to be time in a school-directed program and is part of the instructional day."

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