SCHOOL MATH & SCIENCE CHANGES

HB0263

HOUSE BILL 263

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Catherine J. Cullen
and
Brian G. Baca

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE
MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION ACT; REQUIRING AUTOMATIC
ENROLLMENT OF CERTAIN STUDENTS IN AVAILABLE ADVANCED
MATHEMATICS COURSES; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS TO AUTOMATIC
ENROLLMENT; REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO
REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE BUREAU OF THE
PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON DATA, INCLUDING STUDENT
PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS AND ENROLLMENT IN ADVANCED
MATHEMATICS COURSES; ASSIGNING DUTIES TO THE BUREAU AND THE
DEPARTMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1.
Section 22-15E-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007,

Chapter 44, Section 1 and Laws 2007, Chapter 239, Section 1) is

amended to read:

"22-15E-1. SHORT TITLE.--[
This act
]
Chapter 22, Article

15E NMSA 1978
may be cited as the "Mathematics and Science

Education Act"."

SECTION 2.
A new section of the Mathematics and Science
Education Act is enacted to read:

"[
NEW MATERIAL
] AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT IN ADVANCED
MATHEMATICS COURSES--EXCEPTIONS--REPORTING.--

A. A public school that provides advanced
mathematics courses for sixth, seventh or eighth grade students
shall automatically enroll a student in an available advanced
mathematics course appropriate for the student's grade or
abilities if the student:

(1) demonstrated the highest proficiency in
grade-level mathematics on the most recent statewide
assessment;

(2) demonstrated the highest proficiency in
grade-level mathematics on an end-of-course exam or benchmark
assessment administered by the student's school in the
immediately preceding school year; or

(3) earned at least a letter grade of A or an
equivalent in the mathematics course in which the student was
most recently enrolled.

B. A public school is not required to automatically
enroll a student in an advanced mathematics course pursuant to
Subsection A of this section if the public school has notice of
the student's parent's objection to the enrollment.

C. In addition to the requirements of Subsection A
of this section, a public school shall otherwise enroll a
student in an advanced mathematics course provided by the
public school upon the request of the student or the student's
parent.

D. Each school district and each charter school
with students in sixth through eighth grade shall provide an
annual report to the bureau on the following:

(1) the number of the school's students in
sixth through eighth grade for the current school year,
disaggregated by race, sex and family income, who are:

(a) eligible for automatic enrollment in
an advanced mathematics course pursuant to Subsection A of this
section;

(b) enrolled in an advanced mathematics
course and whether the enrollment was automatic or upon the
request of the student or the student's parent;

(c) eligible for automatic enrollment in
an advanced mathematics course but are not enrolled because of
the student's parent's objection; and

(d) eligible for automatic enrollment in
an advanced mathematics course or who requested enrollment in
an advanced mathematics course but did not enroll because a
course was not available;

(2) the number of the school's students in
sixth through eighth grade for the current school year who are
not eligible for automatic enrollment in an advanced
mathematics course pursuant to Subsection A of this section,
but otherwise are enrolled in an advanced mathematics course,
disaggregated by race, sex and family income;

(3) the average score in grade-level
mathematics on the statewide assessment or the end-of-year
course exam or benchmark assessment and the average letter
grade in mathematics for the students reported on pursuant to
Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection and for all other
students enrolled in the school district or at the charter
school, disaggregated by student grade level, race, sex and
family income;

(4) the advanced mathematics courses for
sixth, seventh and eighth grade students that are available in
the school district or at the charter school for the current
school year; and

(5) the resources, services or interventions
provided by the school district or charter school to support
student performance in mathematics and the number of students
that received those resources, services or interventions in the
current school year.

E. The bureau shall compile the reports received
pursuant to this section and publish the reports on the
department's website; provided that the published reports shall
comply with state and federal law regarding confidentiality of
personally identifiable information.

F. The department shall promulgate rules to
implement the provisions of this section."

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