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Committee approves substitute to create statewide list of students who left high school without a diploma
Summary
Senate Education Committee voted 8–1 to advance a committee substitute for Senate Bill 480 that would require the Public Education Department to compile annually a list (directory information) of students in the prior four school years who did not graduate, and to share it with approved reengagement, higher education and workforce programs.
Senator Nava, sponsor of the committee substitute for Senate Bill 480, told the committee New Mexico’s graduation rate has hovered near 75–80 percent and "in typical senior cohorts of just under 30,000 students, this rate means approximately 6,000 students who do not graduate from high school every year." He said the substitute would require the Public Education Department (PED) to create an annual list of students who were in high school during any of the immediately preceding four school years and who had not graduated within that time.
The substitute adds several clarifications to address data privacy and program eligibility: it specifies the release of directory information (FERPA‑defined name, contact, dates), limits recipients to requesters (higher education institutions, school districts/charters, New Mexico‑based adult basic education and workforce providers), and requires the list be provided upon request. Supporters — including Public Charter Schools of New Mexico, New Mexico Independent Community Colleges, and workforce and reengagement advocates — said a targeted list would allow direct outreach to reengage students into diploma, equivalency or workforce credential programs.
PED staff testified that data sharing agreements are appropriate safeguards when directory information is shared, and committee members asked several clarifying questions about what counts as eligible programs and how the list would be used. After discussion, Senator Ezell moved and Senator Ramos seconded a do-pass motion for the committee substitute. The roll call returned eight yeses and one excused member; the chair announced the committee substitute passed out of committee.
Ending: The committee‑approved substitute directs PED to create and, upon request and under data‑sharing agreements, provide a directory list of out‑of‑cohort students to specified in‑state reengagement, higher‑education and workforce programs. The substitute passed 8–0 with one excused and moves to the next Senate stage.
