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SENATE BILL 396
57
TH LEGISLATURE
-
STATE
OF
NEW
MEXICO
-
FIRST SESSION
,
2025
INTRODUCED BY
Linda M. López and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Leo Jaramillo
and Harold Pope and Shannon D. Pinto
AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE HISPANIC
EDUCATION ACT TO INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR ENSURING THE
MAINTENANCE OF THE SPANISH LANGUAGE; REQUIRING THE HISPANIC
EDUCATION LIAISON TO ADVISE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FIVE-YEAR
PLANS FOR POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS; REQUIRING THE STATEWIDE
HISPANIC EDUCATION STATUS REPORT TO INCLUDE INITIATIVES TO
INCREASE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND REPORT ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AS
MEASURED BY A STATEWIDE TEST; CREATING A SYSTEMIC FRAMEWORK FOR
IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR HISPANIC STUDENTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 22-23B-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010,
Chapter 108, Section 1 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 1)
is amended to read:
"22-23B-1. SHORT TITLE.--[This act ] Chapter 22, Article
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23B NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Hispanic Education Act"."
SECTION 2. Section 22-23B-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010,
Chapter 108, Section 2 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 2)
is amended to read:
"22-23B-2. PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Hispanic
Education Act is to:
A. provide for the study, development and
implementation of educational systems that affect the
educational success of Hispanic students to close the
achievement gap and increase graduation rates;
B. encourage and foster parental involvement in the
education of their children; [and ]
C. provide mechanisms for parents, community,
community-based and business organizations, public schools,
school districts, charter schools, public post-secondary
educational institutions, the higher education department , the
department and state and local policymakers to work together to
improve educational opportunities for Hispanic students for the
purpose of closing the achievement gap, increasing graduation
rates and increasing post-secondary enrollment, retention and
completion; and
D. ensure the maintenance of the Spanish language ."
SECTION 3. Section 22-23B-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010,
Chapter 108, Section 4 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 4)
is amended to read:
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"22-23B-4. HISPANIC EDUCATION LIAISON--CREATED--DUTIES.--
A. The "Hispanic education liaison" is created in
the department.
B. The liaison shall:
(1) focus on issues related to Hispanic
education and advise the secretary on the development and
implementation of policy regarding the education of Hispanic
students;
(2) advise the department and the commission
on the development and implementation of the five-year
strategic plan for public elementary, [and ] secondary education
and post-secondary education in the state as the plan relates
to Hispanic student education;
(3) assist and be assisted by other staff in
the department to improve elementary, secondary and post-
secondary educational outcomes for Hispanic students;
(4) serve as a resource to enable school
districts and charter schools to provide equitable and
culturally relevant learning environments, educational
opportunities and culturally relevant instructional materials
for Hispanic students enrolled in public schools;
(5) support and consult with the Hispanic
education advisory council; and
(6) support school districts and charter
schools to recruit parents on site-based and school district
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committees that represent the ethnic diversity of the
community."
SECTION 4. Section 22-23B-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010,
Chapter 108, Section 6 and Laws 2010, Chapter 114, Section 6,
as amended) is amended to read:
"22-23B-6. STATEWIDE STATUS REPORT.--
A. The department, in collaboration with the higher
education department, shall submit an annual preschool through
post-secondary statewide Hispanic education status report no
later than November 15 to the governor and the legislature
through the legislative education study committee. A copy
shall be provided to the legislative library in the legislative
council service.
B. The status report shall include the following
information, by school district, by charter school and
statewide, which may be compiled from data otherwise required
to be submitted to the department:
(1) Hispanic student achievement at all grades
as measured by a statewide test approved by the department with
results desegregated by ethnicity ;
(2) attendance for all grades;
(3) the graduation rates for Hispanic
students; [and]
(4) the number and type of bilingual and
multicultural programs in each school district and charter
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school; and
(5) school district initiatives to decrease
the number of school dropouts and increase attendance .
C. The status report shall include the following
information, by post-secondary educational institution, which
may be compiled from data otherwise required to be submitted to
the higher education department:
(1) Hispanic student enrollment;
(2) Hispanic student retention; and
(3) Hispanic student completion rates."
SECTION 5. A new section of the Hispanic Education Act is
enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] SYSTEMIC FRAMEWORK.--
A. School districts shall develop and publish a
systemic framework for improving educational outcomes for
Hispanic students. A school district shall develop the
framework in collaboration with school employees, Hispanic
students and families, social service providers and community
and civic organizations. The Hispanic education liaison shall
assist the school district as required during the development
and implementation of the framework. The school district may
request assistance from schools of education at state post-
secondary educational institutions to identify best practices
in collecting and using student-centered data to inform
teaching strategies and schoolwide efforts to close the
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achievement gap between Hispanic students and all other student
demographic groups.
B. The systemic framework shall include culturally
relevant programs, services, curricula, instructional
materials, activities and professional development that need to
be provided to improve Hispanic education in the state.
C. Academic and other programs may include:
(1) high-quality professional development for
teaching professionals and paraprofessionals;
(2) family-based early childhood programs that
provide screening and referral and provide services to children
with developmental delays or disabilities;
(3) bilingual and bicultural programs and
projects; and
(4) programs designed to encourage and assist
Hispanic students to work toward, and gain entrance into,
institutions of higher education.
D. Culturally related activities may include:
(1) culturally related activities that support
the academic program of the public school;
(2) activities that support the Spanish
language programs;
(3) activities that promote the incorporation
of culturally responsive teaching and learning strategies into
the public school's educational program; and
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(4) activities to educate students about the
prevention of violence, suicide and substance abuse.
E. Services to be provided may include:
(1) early interventions to help struggling
students, such as after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring
and school and community interventions to prevent truancy and
reduce dropout rates;
(2) comprehensive guidance and counseling
services;
(3) integrated educational services in
combination with other programs that meet the needs of Hispanic
students and their families, including programs that promote
parental involvement in school activities and increase student
achievement; and
(4) family literacy services, including adult
basic education programs."
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