SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 26

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO CONVENE A WORK GROUP TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE CONCERNING METHODS FOR TRANSFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING THROUGH INNOVATIVE, NEXT GENERATION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING DIGITAL LEARNING, DISTANCE EDUCATION AND HYBRID AND BLENDED LEARNING IN THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has been a national leader in online and distance education; and

     WHEREAS, digital learning and related topics are becoming increasingly important to the state as it works to provide equal educational opportunities for students across the school districts of the state; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes the need to focus on elementary and secondary education;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to convene a work group to explore the transformational educational methods offered by digital learning tools and related topics to improve and increase opportunities for student learning in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work group examine:

          A. national and state trends in digital learning policy;

          B. distance, hybrid and blended learning models;

          C. alternative opportunities that digital learning and blended learning provide to current graduation policies;

          D. funding models to support digital learning;

          E. best practices in using and implementing distance, hybrid and blended learning models in traditional classrooms;

          F. national models for assuring quality education in distance learning programs;

          G. opportunities to expand student access to high quality instructional materials through digital formats; and

          H. cost benefits to New Mexico of having teachers develop and implement an affordable curriculum that reflects the rich diversity of cultures in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work group report its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by November 30, 2013 and again by November 30, 2014; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair, vice chair and director of the legislative education study committee and the secretary of public education.

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