Bill > HB118

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program called the Biliteracy Development and Training Project, aimed at improving educational outcomes for at-risk students, defined as those who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, Native American, or have disabilities. The project will provide specialized training and professional development to teachers in biliteracy, which means being proficient in reading and writing in two languages, as well as transliteracy (communicating across multiple languages and communication methods) and multiliteracy (integrating various communication modes like visual and auditory). The Public Education Department will oversee the creation of regional and statewide training programs, which can be administered by qualified private providers with expertise in bilingual education and experience working with diverse student populations. The project will select an increasing number of teachers each year, prioritizing those from districts with many bilingual learners or who are already involved in bilingual education programs. The department will also develop training standards, participation criteria, and methods to measure the program's effectiveness, collaborating with a New Mexico-based nonprofit. Finally, the department will report on student progress, teacher development, and parental satisfaction to state officials. An appropriation of $6,645,000 is allocated for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to fund this project.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=118&year=26