A. A school district or charter school may apply to participate in the K-5 plus program and is eligible to receive program units for students enrolled in elementary schools approved by the department to participate in the K-5 plus program. In approving schools for participation in K-5 plus, the department shall prioritize elementary schools:

(1) in which eighty percent or more of the elementary school's students are eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch;

(2) that are low-performing elementary schools;

(3) that participated in the 2018 K-3 plus or K-5 plus program; and

(4) that meet criteria established by department rule.

B. Each K-5 plus program shall:

(1) provide no fewer than twenty-five additional instructional days prior to the start of the regular school year;

(2) keep students that participate in the K-5 plus program with the same teacher and cohort of students during the regular school year;

(3) include additional professional development for K-5 plus teachers in how young children learn to read; and

(4) be implemented school-wide.

C. An elementary school is ineligible for K-5 plus program units if it fails to meet the requirements of Subsection B of this section.

History: Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 3 and Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 3.

Duplicate laws. — Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 3 and Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 3, both effective June 14, 2019, enacted identical new sections. The section was set out as enacted by Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 3. See Section 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.

Applicability. — Laws 2019, ch. 206, § 29 and Laws 2019, ch. 207, § 29, provided that the provisions of §§ 2 through 19 apply to the program cost calculation in fiscal year 2020 and subsequent fiscal years.