SENATE BILL 289

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

INTRODUCED BY

Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales and Siah Correa Hemphill

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A SCOPE AND SEQUENCE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM INTEGRATED ACROSS SUBJECT AREAS; UPDATING ACADEMIC CONTENT AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS TO ENCOMPASS OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

 

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM--SCOPE AND SEQUENCE PLAN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE.--The department shall:

          A. establish an outdoor and environmental education program for all public schools that includes an organized developmental scope and sequence plan to integrate outdoor and environmental education across subject areas in kindergarten through twelfth grade;

          B. update academic content and performance standards to include outdoor and environmental education in core and other subjects and determine how and when the scope and sequence plan will be implemented through school grades and subjects;

          C. coordinate with school districts and public post-secondary educational institutions to integrate outdoor and environmental education into curricula for pre-service and in-service training and professional development for teachers in all grades; and

          D. encourage informal education resources, such as zoos, nature centers, wildlife rehabilitation centers, museums, parks, water treatment facilities and others, to develop complementary outdoor and environmental education programs."

- 2 -