2006 New Mexico Statutes - Section 32A-23-6 — Requests for proposals; contracts for services.

32A-23-6. Requests for proposals; contracts for services.

A.     Each department shall publish a request for proposals for pre-kindergarten services.

B.     Eligible providers shall submit proposals for pre-kindergarten services to each department.  An eligible provider proposal shall include a description of the services that will be provided, including:

(1)     how those services meet children, youth and families department standards;

(2)     the number of four-year-old children the eligible provider can serve;

(3)     site and floor plans and a description of the facilities;

(4)     revenue sources and amounts other than state funding available for the pre-kindergarten program;

(5)     a description of the qualifications and experience of the early childhood development staff for each site;

(6)     the plan for communicating with and involving parents in the pre-kindergarten program;

(7)     how those services meet the continuum of services to children; and

(8)     other relevant information requested by the departments.

C.     The public education department shall accept and evaluate proposals from school districts for funding for pre-kindergarten.  The children, youth and families department shall accept and evaluate proposals from other eligible providers.

D.     For funding purposes, proposals shall be evaluated on the percentage and number of public elementary schools in the community that are not meeting the proficiency component required for calculating adequate yearly progress and that are serving children, at least sixty-six percent of whom live within the attendance zone of a Title 1 elementary school.  Additional funding criteria include:

(1)     the number of four-year-olds residing in the community and the number of four-year-olds proposed to be served;

(2)     the adequacy and capacity of pre-kindergarten facilities in the community;

(3)     language and literacy services in the community;

(4)     the cultural, historic and linguistic responsiveness to the community;

(5)     parent education services available for parents of four-year-olds in the community;

(6)     the qualifications of eligible providers in the community;

(7)     staff professional development plans;

(8)     the capacity of local organizations and persons interested in and involved in programs and services for four-year-olds and their commitment to work together;

(9)     the extent of local support for pre-kindergarten services in the community; and

(10)     other relevant criteria specified by joint rule of the departments.

E.     A contract with an eligible provider shall specify and ensure that funds shall not be used for any religious, sectarian or denominational purposes, instruction or material.