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Committee backs adjusting school funding formula to add 0.25 unit for CTE concentrators
Summary
Senate Bill 130 would add 0.25 program units for each student enrolled in career technical education, with the sponsor saying the focus should be on CTE concentrators; the Senate Education Committee gave the bill a unanimous due pass.
Senator Brandt introduced Senate Bill 130 to create a dedicated funding mechanism for career technical education by adding 0.25 program units for every student enrolled in CTE. The sponsor emphasized that funding should be concentrated on CTE "concentrators" ' students who take multiple courses in a CTE sequence ' because those students have very high graduation rates and require more resource-intensive, hands-on instruction.
"We've gotta quit ignoring 65% of our students," Senator Brandt said, arguing the Supplemental General Education (SEG) formula has not accounted for the higher per-student costs of CTE classes such as auto mechanics, welding and other technical courses. Brandt said concentrators graduate at approximately 97.7 percent and that hands-on courses require smaller class sizes, specialized equipment and potentially higher teacher pay.
Students and FFA chapter members attending the hearing spoke in favor of the bill. A Roswell Early College High School FFA student said funding gaps left some programs without supplies and urged stronger support for CTE. Industry and chamber representatives, including the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, also testified in support.
Supporters told the committee dedicated CTE funding would enable more stable programming, better alignment with postsecondary and industry partners and clearer oversight through existing CTE accountability (e.g., advisory boards under Perkins). Committee members discussed coordination with the upcoming SEG overhaul and different proposals from LESC and LFC about weighting and grade-level funding.
After discussion the committee recorded a unanimous due pass recommendation and the bill will advance to the finance committee for budget negotiations.
