STATE News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday to allow New Mexico students the opportunity to graduate early from high school. House Bill 498 is sponsored by Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Valencia), and it passed on a bipartisan 62 to 5 vote.

Baldonado’s bill would permit students to test out of high school if they score in the top twenty percentile of students taking the ACT, SAT, the armed services vocational aptitude battery, or other assessment approved by the New Mexico Public Education Department. Students must have parental permission to apply for early graduation as well as approval from their school principal. Students must also have a meeting with their school counselors to review the options available to them and ensure they are prepared for graduation.

“If students are ready for their next phase in life, we should give them the freedom to move on and not hold them back,” Baldonado said. “I am encouraged by the support this bill has received. I urge the Senate to consider this bill soon so we can make this option available to New Mexico’s students.”

House Bill 498 now moves to the Senate for consideration.