HOUSE MEMORIAL 44

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

E. Diane Torres-Velásquez and Pamelya Herndon

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE CURRENT STATE OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES, MODELS AND POLICIES IN NEW MEXICO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO RECOMMEND STRATEGIES FOR SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT.

 

     WHEREAS, decades of research demonstrate that effective family engagement in schools is a critical predictor of student success, comparable in influence to teacher quality, school leadership and rigorous curriculum; and

     WHEREAS, the principle of "universal family engagement" is embraced by the public education department in its family engagement policies and practices; and

     WHEREAS, parents from many New Mexico communities may experience systemic barriers to family engagement, and these barriers may impede access to the social capital and understanding of the education system necessary to take effective action on behalf of their children; and

     WHEREAS, the public education department's website indicates the vision for family engagement is "To build a future where authentic partnerships among families, schools, and communities drive equity, connection, and academic success for every student across New Mexico"; and

     WHEREAS, family engagement is an ongoing process of schools partnering with all families rather than just a select few and has been shown to improve school culture, reduce teacher burnout and close equity gaps for students from historically marginalized communities; and

     WHEREAS, among the priorities of the Hispanic Education Act are the improvement of educational systems that affect the success of Hispanic students, the encouragement and fostering of parental involvement and the provision of mechanisms for parents to work with other stakeholders to improve educational opportunities for Hispanic students; and

     WHEREAS, professional development in family engagement has not been prioritized in New Mexico despite research showing that students with engaged families are significantly more likely to attend school regularly, earn higher grades, enroll in advanced courses, demonstrate better social skills and graduate on time; and

     WHEREAS, despite its importance, many educators report a lack of formal training in family engagement strategies, with national surveys indicating that, while more than seventy percent of parents believe teacher training in this area is vital, less than twenty percent of teachers report receiving the training; and

     WHEREAS, current family engagement practices across New Mexico vary significantly by district and school, often relying on the efforts of individual educators rather than a systemic, supported framework; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative education study committee is charged with the continuous study of all matters relating to public schools in New Mexico and the recommendation of legislation to improve the quality of education;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to conduct a comprehensive study of family engagement practices across the state during the 2026 interim; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study:

          A. include an assessment of current family engagement frameworks and evidence-based practices used by New Mexico school districts and charter schools;

          B. identify systemic barriers that prevent families from meaningfully engaging with their schools;

          C. include a review of evidence-based "universal family engagement" models and community school frameworks;

          D. include an analysis of current professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators regarding family engagement; and

          E. include recommendations for legislative, regulatory or budgetary actions to support systemic family engagement, including potential funding mechanisms for dedicated family liaison positions in schools or districts and teacher and administrator training programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to present its findings and recommendations to the New Mexico legislative council by August 31, 2026 and to publish the findings and recommendations on the legislative education study committee's website no later than September 30, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the:

          A. legislative education study committee;

          B. director of the legislative finance committee;

          C. governor;

          D. secretary of public education;

          E. directors of all bilingual multicultural education programs of the language and culture division of the public education department;

          F. all Pueblo council of governors;

          G. bilingual multicultural education advisory council;

          H. Black education advisory council;

          I. deputy secretary of special education of the public education department;

          J. business committee of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe;

          K. Hispanic education advisory council;

          L. Indian education advisory council;

          M. legislative council of the Jicarilla Apache Nation;

          N. tribal council of the Mescalero Apache Tribe;

          O. Navajo Nation council;

          P. New Mexico coalition of educational leaders;

          Q. New Mexico school boards association;

          R. New Mexico school superintendents association;

          S. president of the Albuquerque teachers federation;

          T. president of the American federation of teachers; and

          U. president of the New Mexico parent teacher association.

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