SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 43

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE, THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS MEET IN THE INTERIM TO STUDY ACCOUNTABILITY TARGETS.

     WHEREAS, the people of New Mexico share a vision of a world-class education system that prepares their children for success in the twenty-first century; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico legislature has laid the essential groundwork needed to support an educational system with enhanced educational opportunities for all New Mexico students; and

     WHEREAS, public schools in New Mexico have made progress in reducing the achievement gap; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico ranks second in the nation for education reform, school choice and children's access to free and reduced-cost breakfast and ranks fourth in the nation for a strong nutrition policy; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is one of four states leading the nation in innovative school improvement strategies; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico ranks in the top ten states in grade three reading comprehension and in oral reading fluency for students in grades one, two and three; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is one of only nine states with an approved highly qualified teacher plan and is one of eleven states to have standards-based assessments aligned to strong content standards; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is recognized for standards and benchmarks that are well aligned to advanced placement and college entrance examinations; and

     WHEREAS, the secretary of public education and the educational community assert that it is not just assessments that will reform education in New Mexico, but that schools must be accountable for performance, instruction and improvement; and

     WHEREAS, scientific research supports the use of formative "short-cycle" assessments to inform instruction for students; and

     WHEREAS, the public education department supports the use of short-cycle assessments to address the differentiated learning needs of a diverse student population; and

     WHEREAS, there were four hundred forty schools that did not make adequate yearly progress pursuant to New Mexico and federal accountability standards, largely because of the performance of various subpopulations;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee, in collaboration with the public education department, the legislative council service, public school superintendents, directors of special education, directors of bilingual education and other appropriate educators, form a study group to meet during the interim to discuss the possible use of short-cycle assessments as an indicator of student progress and to recommend an accountability mechanism for the specific subpopulations based on a growth model; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group study the impact of using the office of special education targets in lieu of New Mexico accountability targets; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group examine opportunity-to-learn factors as a companion to New Mexico accountability targets; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group report its findings to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature by December 1, 2008; and

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

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