A. In accordance with state board regulations, every local school board shall establish and conduct early childhood education programs.
B. The state board shall adopt and promulgate regulations providing for:
(1) minimum standards for the conduct of early childhood education programs; and
(2) qualifications of any person teaching in those programs.
C. The cost of operating early childhood education programs shall be included in the budget prepared for the school district.
D. As used in this section, “early childhood education programs” means kindergarten programs for every child who has attained his fifth birthday prior to September 1 of the school year, except for those children who are eligible for and participating in federal headstart programs in any class B county with a population in excess of ninety-five thousand, established by a local school board for the development or enrichment of persons within the school district.
E. The provisions of this section shall be effective with the 1988-89 school year, and waivers may be granted upon the request of the parent or legal guardian pursuant to Section 22-12-2 NMSA 1978.
HISTORY:
1953 77-11-2, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 16, § 181; reenacted by 1973, ch. 357, § 1; 1974, ch. 8, § 20; 1977, ch. 2, § 2; 1986, ch. 33, § 29; 1987, ch. 320, § 6; 1988, ch. 35, § 1; 1993, ch. 226, § 29.
Editor’s notes.
Laws 2003, ch. 143, § 2, effective July 1, 2004, and contingent upon adoption of an amendment to Article 12, Section 6 of the constitution of New Mexico, repeals Articles 1, 2, 13, 13A and 15 of Chapter 22 NMSA 1978. The constitutional amendment was approved at the special election on September 23, 2003, giving the repeal full force and effect as of July 1, 2004. However, Laws 2003, Chapter 143 was repealed by Laws 2004, Chapter 27, § 29, nullifying the repeal by Laws 2003, Chapter 143 and leaving the statutory provisions as they were prior to the attempted repeal in 2003. Article 13A of Chapter 22 was additionally repealed, without contingency, by Laws 2003, ch. 153, § 73, effective April 4, 2003.
Research References and Practice Aids
Cross references.
Students eligible; distribution, 22-15-7 NMSA 1978.
Students eligible; distribution, 22-15C-5 NMSA 1978.