A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY AT ROSWELL AND HAGERMAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS STUDY THE FEASIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL INITIATIVE.

     WHEREAS, education beyond high school is now more critical than ever before and only ten percent of Hispanic students complete a bachelor's degree; and

     WHEREAS, first generation college students are nearly twice as likely not to complete college as those students with college-educated parents, and lower-income students are seven times more likely not to complete a bachelor's degree than upper-income students; and

     WHEREAS, students are not academically prepared for college, as evidenced by the growing number of students enrolled in noncredit, remedial courses offered by state colleges and universities; and

     WHEREAS, the best predictors of college completion are not a student's grades or SAT scores, but the difficulty of the high school courses a student is required to complete; and

     WHEREAS, in the transition from high school to college, there is a need to emphasize academic preparedness rather than credit-hours alone; and

     WHEREAS, the need exists to allow students to earn an associate's degree or two years of college credit toward a bachelor's degree and a high school diploma simultaneously; and

     WHEREAS, high school faculty can act as advisors to assist students in completing an academic plan and can monitor their progress to help them overcome barriers to success; and

     WHEREAS, experiencing the rigor, depth and intensity of college-level work during high school can help underachieving, average and outstanding students build confidence in their ability to succeed in college; and

     WHEREAS, this initiative could develop a unique vision and learning environment that could dramatically increase the possibility that our most needy students can truly meet the mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind Act;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that eastern New Mexico university at Roswell and the Hagerman municipal school district study the feasibility and effectiveness of an early college high school initiative; develop a survey of staff, students, parents and community members to gauge expectations, satisfaction and local needs; monitor curricula to ensure high academic standards, alignment and effectiveness of instruction; and evaluate current curricula to ensure adequate preparation of middle and high school students for participation in an early college high school initiative; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the results of this study be presented to the legislative education study committee by September 2006.