House Bill 200

HOUSE BILL 200

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Yanira Gurrola and Natalie Figueroa

and E. Diane Torres-Velásquez and Tanya Mirabal Moya

and D. Wonda Johnson

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE; ESTABLISHING PROGRAM UNITS FOR LICENSED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WITH BILINGUAL AND TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ENDORSEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR THE CALCULATION OF PROGRAM UNITS FOR BILINGUAL AND TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ENDORSEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT VERIFICATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-8-18 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1974, Chapter 8, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-8-18. PROGRAM COST CALCULATION--LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY.--

          A. The total program units for the purpose of computing the program cost shall be calculated by multiplying the sum of the program units itemized as Paragraphs (1) and (2) in this subsection by the staffing cost multiplier and adding the program units itemized as Paragraphs (3) through [(15)] (17) in this subsection. The itemized program units are as follows:

                (1) early childhood education;

                (2) basic education;

                (3) special education, adjusted by subtracting the units derived from membership in class D special education programs in private, nonsectarian, nonprofit training centers;

                (4) bilingual multicultural education;

                (5) fine arts education;

                (6) elementary physical education;

                (7) size adjustment;

                (8) at-risk;

                (9) enrollment growth or new district adjustment;

                (10) special education units derived from membership in class D special education programs in private, nonsectarian, nonprofit training centers;

                (11) national board for professional teaching standards certification;

                (12) home school student;

                (13) home school student activities;

                (14) charter school student activities; [and]

                (15) K-12 plus;

                (16) bilingual endorsement; and

                (17) teaching English to speakers of other languages endorsement.

          B. The total program cost calculated as prescribed in Subsection A of this section includes the cost of early childhood, special, bilingual multicultural, fine arts and vocational education and other remedial or enrichment programs. It is the responsibility of the local school board or governing body of a charter school to determine its priorities in terms of the needs of the community served by that board. Except as otherwise provided in this section, funds generated under the Public School Finance Act are discretionary to local school boards and governing bodies of charter schools; provided that the special program needs as enumerated in this section are met; and provided further that the department shall ensure that the local school board or governing body of a charter school is prioritizing resources for the public school toward proven programs and methods linked to improved student achievement."

     SECTION 2. Section 22-8-23.4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 144, Section 2 and Laws 2003, Chapter 152, Section 9, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-8-23.4. NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS--BILINGUAL ENDORSEMENTS--TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ENDORSEMENTS--PROGRAM UNITS.--

          A. The number of program units for licensed school employees certified by the national board for professional teaching standards is determined by multiplying by one and one-half the number of licensed school employees certified by the national board for professional teaching standards employed by the school district or charter school on or before the first reporting date of the school year and verified by the department. Department approval of these units shall be contingent on verification by the school district or charter school that these licensed school employees hold certification by the national board for professional teaching standards and are receiving a one-time salary differential equal to or greater than the amount generated by the units multiplied by the program unit value during the fiscal year in which the school district or charter school will receive these units.

          B. The number of program units for licensed school employees with bilingual endorsements is determined by multiplying by one the number of licensed school employees with a bilingual endorsement that are employed by a school district or charter school in a department-approved bilingual multicultural education program on or before the first reporting date of the school year and verified by the department. Department approval of these units shall be contingent on verification by the school district or charter school that these licensed school employees hold a bilingual endorsement, are employed in a department-approved bilingual multicultural education program and are receiving a one-time salary differential equal to or greater than the amount generated by the units multiplied by the program unit value during the fiscal year in which the school district or charter will receive these units.

          C. The number of program units for teachers with a teaching English to speakers of other languages endorsement is determined by multiplying by one-half the number of teachers with a teaching English to speakers of other languages endorsement employed by the school district or charter school on or before the first reporting date of the school year and verified by the department. Department approval of these units shall be contingent on verification by the school district or charter school that these teachers hold a teaching English to speakers of other languages endorsement and are receiving a one-time salary differential equal to or greater than the amount generated by the units multiplied by the program unit value during the fiscal year in which the school district or charter school will receive these units."

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