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PRESS RELEASE

 

November 14, 2002

SBE to Consider Public School Support Request,
High School Reform Initiatives

(Santa Fe, NM)-The New Mexico State Board of Education (SBE) will meet on Friday, November 22, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in Santa Fe at the New Mexico State Department of Education, Mabry Hall, located at 300 Don Gaspar Street. The SBE will consider final action on its 2003-2004 Public School Support Request and legislative proposals and proposed amendments to the Public School Code to change the state's graduation requirements and effect high school reform.

"The legislative initiatives continue the SBE's efforts to improve students' academic achievement and close the gap in public education. We will seek regional parity in teachers' salaries so that we can attract high-quality educators to our state and reform of our secondary schools to ensure they are responsive to students' needs," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael J. Davis.

State Superintendent Davis will notify the SBE of several options related to the deficiency letter he issued to the Cuba Independent Schools on October 2. Those options are located in New Mexico Statute 22-2-14, either Subsections B, C or D. The SBE will consider possible action on a hearing date.

The SBE will also consider changes in its rules and regulations to allow:

  • the Educational Standards Commission to hear appeals on all data for schools that are rated as probationary for a second year and entering their first year of school improvement
  • one full year for schools implementing local corrective action plans to meet the criteria for an extension of school improvement or to meet standards
  • the Licensure of School Administrators to be split into two rules and two licenses, allowing for a school district administrator and a school site administrator
  • changes to special education regulations.
In addition, the SBE will consider whether to continue the administration of the TerraNova in Grades 4 and 8, the elimination of the general knowledge test of the New Mexico Teacher Assessment and annexation by the Elida Municipal Schools of property in the Roswell Independent Schools.

The SBE will hold an executive (closed) session at the end of the meeting to consider limited personnel matters related to the state superintendent's job performance. The SBE will then return to its regular meeting to take action on matters considered during the executive session.

The SBE's six standing committees will hold meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, November 20-21, in Mabry Hall. Committees act in an advisory capacity to the SBE, referring items for action. Committee discussions will include:

  • Legislation. The SBE's Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 20, from noon to 3:00 p.m., to consider the SBE's 2003-2004 Public School Support Package. Final action on the package will occur on Friday before the SBE.
  • Special Education. The SBE's Instructional Services Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 20, from 3:15 to 6:00 p.m., to consider changes to special education regulations.
  • Quality Educators. The SBE's Quality Educators Committee will meet on Thursday, November 21, from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., to consider changes in licensure to create a school district administrator and a school site administrator, elimination of some teacher testing requirements, implementation of three-tiered licensure and rule and statutory changes required to align state licensing requirements with the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act.
  • High School Reform. The SBE's Vocational Rehabilitation, Career Education and Adult Services Committee will meet on Thursday, November 21, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., to consider proposed amendments to the Public School Code that will change to 20 the minimum number of units needed to graduate (the current number is 23) and require students in grades 9-12 to prepare a program of study designed around a career/learner pathway.
  • Financial Issues. The SBE's Finance, Transportation and Administration Committee will meet on Thursday, November 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., to consider annexation between the Roswell Independent Schools and Elida Municipal Schools and a report on school district financial issues in Cuba, Loving, Mesa Vista and Vaughn.
  • Accountability. The SBE's Accountability Committee will meet on Thursday, November 21, from 3:15 to 6:00 p.m., to consider allowing the Educational Standards Commission to hear appeals on all data for schools that are rated as probationary for a second year and entering their first year of school improvement, one full year for schools implementing local corrective action plans to meet the criteria for an extension of school improvement or to meet standards and administering the TerraNova in grades 4 and 8 in addition to a criterion-referenced assessment.

The next regular meeting of the SBE will be held on January 21-23 at Mabry Hall in Santa Fe.

The SBE's November agenda is available at the following web address: http://ped.state.nm.us/bd.of.ed/brditems/agenda.items/docs/agenda.nov.20.23.02.pdf .