HOUSE BILL 125

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

G. Andrés Romero and Natalie Figueroa and Joanne J. Ferrary

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; CREATING A DUAL CREDIT TASK FORCE; PROVIDING DUTIES; REQUIRING A FINAL REPORT.

 

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--DUAL CREDIT TASK FORCE--CREATED--DUTIES--FINAL REPORT.--

          A. The "dual credit task force" is created. The task force consists of:

                (1) the following members appointed by the secretary of higher education:

                     (a) two members representing the four-year higher education institutions; and

                     (b) three members representing the independent community colleges;

                (2) the following members appointed by the secretary of public education:

                     (a) two members representing school superintendents; and

                     (b) three members representing high school principals;

                (3) the secretary of higher education or the secretary's designee; and

                (4) the secretary of public education or the secretary's designee.

          B. The task force shall be appointed by July 1, 2023. Staff for the task force shall be provided by the higher education and public education departments and the higher education institutions that have members on the task force.

          C. The task force shall examine current course offerings, dual credit enrollment practices, faculty hiring practices, student support services, credit transferability and current barriers to increasing dual credit participation in a seamless system for high school students to transition from diploma to terminal degree. The task force shall:

                (1) conduct a comprehensive survey and study of:

                     (a) course options by subject area and public post-secondary educational institution;

                     (b) accessibility for high school students in urban and rural school districts for both online and in-person instruction;

                     (c) institutional procedures for student enrollment in dual credit college courses;

                     (d) procedures for dual credit agreements between public post-secondary educational institutions and public high schools;

                     (e) course enrollments by tuition-paying students and high school students;

                     (f) funding sufficiency for higher education institutions to offer current and enhanced coursework for dual credit;

                     (g) platforms and delivery methods for online courses;

                     (h) hiring or contracting practices by higher education institutions for adjunct faculty and other dual credit instructors, including instructor credentials and certifications;

                     (i) communications processes between high schools and higher education institutions regarding student expectations, assignment completion, attendance, course completion, student support needs and grades; and

                     (j) exemplar practices and policies nationally;

                (2) propose and employ metrics for determining effective dual credit programs and for defining student success within a dual credit course;

                (3) identify practices and other factors that increase or decrease rates of course access and successful completion; and

                (4) identify strategies to increase student access to both online and in-person dual credit coursework.

          D. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor, the legislative education study committee and the legislature by January 1, 2024.

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