A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING RECEIVED BY NEW MEXICO FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2001.

     WHEREAS, the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 incorporates the principles and strategies of increased accountability for states, school districts and schools; greater choice for students and parents, particularly for those attending low-performing schools; more flexibility in the use of federal dollars by states and local education agencies; and a stronger emphasis on reading, especially for younger readers; and

     WHEREAS, these are principles and strategies that should be welcomed in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, school improvement and educational achievement are the keys to producing well-educated, taxpaying, financially independent New Mexicans;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to provide a report on:

          A. the amount of federal funding the state has been eligible for and the amount the state has received pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001;

          B. how the money has been spent by the public education department, including in which school districts and for what purposes;

          C. whether any money has been returned to the federal government, and, if so, the amount and the reasons for return; and

          D. whether any money for which the state was eligible was not received or expended and, if so, the reasons it was not; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education report the findings to the appropriate interim legislative committee by July 1, 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education.