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Committee approves bill to create statewide list of recent non‑graduates to help reengagement programs
Summary
Senate Bill 480 (committee substitute) passed the Senate Finance Committee with a do-pass recommendation; it would require the Public Education Department to compile an annual list of students who did not graduate within four years to help recruitment into reengagement, equivalency and workforce programs.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 7-0 to recommend a do pass for the committee substitute of Senate Bill 480, which would require the Public Education Department (PED) to create an annual list of students who were in high school in any one of the past four years and did not graduate within that four‑year window.
Sponsors said the list is intended to let higher education, adult education providers, school districts, charter schools and workforce programs identify and reach out to people who did not complete a diploma on time. Senator Trudeau, sponsor, described the statewide cohort size and the policy rationale: "A typical senior cohort of just under 30,000 students... approximately 6,000 students do not graduate from high school every year," he said, arguing the list would make recruitment for reengagement and credential programs more efficient.
Under the bill as described in committee, PED would compile the list each summer, with data pulled after the school year’s June graduation counts (testimony said the data pull would occur on July 15 to capture late graduations). The list would be available to the Higher Education Department, public postsecondary institutions, school districts, charter schools, New Mexico-based adult education providers and workforce development programs that serve out-of-cohort students seeking a diploma, equivalency, or workforce credential.
An expert witness from public charter schools testified on technical questions. Rayna Adebayo of New Mexico Kids Can spoke in support, echoing the sponsor’s point that targeted outreach could increase enrollments in reengagement programs. Committee members asked timing and age questions; sponsors clarified that the list would include people who last attended high school within the previous four years and therefore could include persons roughly 18 to 22 years old.
Senator Padilla moved the committee recommendation for do pass on the committee substitute; the motion was seconded by Senator Gonzales. Roll call recorded seven affirmative votes and zero negatives. The committee’s do-pass recommendation will send the substitute bill to the next legislative stage.
