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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY AT ROSWELL,

HAGERMAN MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS, DEXTER CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS, LAKE

ARTHUR MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS AND LOVING 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

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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 the most needy students can truly meet the

mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that eastern New

Mexico university at Roswell, Hagerman municipal school

district, Dexter consolidated school district, Lake Arthur

municipal school district and Loving 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

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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; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to eastern New Mexico university at Roswell,

Hagerman municipal school district, Dexter consolidated school

district, Lake Arthur municipal school district and Loving

municipal school district.