department powers and duties.

A. The department shall adopt academic content and performance standards for grades one through twelve in the following areas:

(1)     mathematics;

(2)     reading and language arts; (3)     science; and

(4)     social studies.

B. The department may adopt content and performance standards in other subject areas.

C. Academic content and performance standards shall be sufficiently academically challenging to meet or exceed any applicable federal requirements.

D. The department shall measure the performance of every public school in New Mexico.