SENATE BILL 255
54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020
INTRODUCED BY
Gabriel Ramos
AN ACT
RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; EXPANDING TEACHER PREPARATION AFFORDABILITY SCHOLARSHIPS TO INCLUDE PERSONS WHO ATTEND A NONPROFIT ONLINE UNIVERSITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 21-21O-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 7) is amended to read:
"21-21O-1. SHORT TITLE.--[Sections 7 through 14 of this act] Chapter 21, Article 21O NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Teacher Preparation Affordability Act"."
SECTION 2. Section 21-21O-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 8) is amended to read:
"21-21O-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act:
A. "department" means the higher education department;
B. "eligible student" means a New Mexico resident who is enrolled or enrolling at least half-time in an accredited public education department-approved teacher preparation program at a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution, [or] a tribal college or the online university at any time later than one hundred twenty days following high school graduation or the award of a high school equivalency credential and who is pursuing a teaching degree;
C. "online university" means a nonprofit online post-secondary educational institution founded by the western governors' association, of which New Mexico is a member, and at which all courses are offered online using a competency-based learning model and that is regionally accredited by the northwest commission on colleges and universities and nationally accredited by the national council for accreditation of teacher education and the council for the accreditation of educator preparation;
[C.] D. "scholarship" means a teacher preparation affordability scholarship; and
[D.] E. "tribal college" means a tribally, federally or congressionally chartered tribal post-secondary educational institution located in New Mexico that is accredited by the north central association of colleges and schools."
SECTION 3. Section 21-21O-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 10) is amended to read:
"21-21O-4. SCHOLARSHIP AUTHORIZED--ADMINISTRATION--PREFERENCE IN SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.--
A. The department shall administer the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act and shall promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of that act.
B. Scholarships shall be awarded to qualified eligible students. Qualifications shall be determined by rule of the department.
C. The department shall allocate money to public post-secondary educational institutions, [and] tribal colleges and the online university based on a student need formula calculated according to income reported on the free application for federal student aid, on the number of students enrolled in each public education department-approved teacher preparation program at a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college or the online university and on the percentage of the teacher preparation program's students classified as returning adults who are otherwise ineligible for state financial aid.
D. Public post-secondary educational institutions, [and] tribal colleges and the online university shall make awards to qualifying eligible students based on financial need in an amount not to exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year for not more than five years as determined by rule of the department.
E. Public post-secondary educational institutions, [and] tribal colleges and the online university shall make awards first to qualifying eligible students who:
(1) are English language learners;
(2) are minority students; or
(3) have declared intent to teach in a high-need teacher position as defined by the public education department.
F. After scholarships have been awarded to eligible students pursuant to Subsection E of this section, a public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college or the online university shall award scholarships to other eligible students as determined by department rule.
G. Money for the scholarship shall be placed in an account at the public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college or the online university in the name of the eligible student, and the money may be drawn upon to pay educational expenses charged by the institution, including tuition, fees, books and course supplies, and living expenses."
SECTION 4. Section 21-21O-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 11) is amended to read:
"21-21O-5. DURATION OF SCHOLARSHIP.--Each scholarship is for a period of one semester or its equivalent. A scholarship may be renewed as long as the eligible student continues to meet the conditions of eligibility, until the eligible student graduates from a public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college or the online university."
SECTION 5. Section 21-21O-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 12) is amended to read:
"21-21O-6. TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIP.--A scholarship is terminated upon occurrence of one or more of the following:
A. the eligible student withdraws from the public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college or the online university or from the teacher preparation program or the eligible student fails to remain at least a half-time student;
B. the eligible student fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress; or
C. the eligible student is in substantial noncompliance with the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act or the rules promulgated pursuant to that act."
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