SENATE MEMORIAL 75

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 28, 2015 "NEW MEXICO EDUCATION POWERHOUSE CONFERENCE DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, every human being should have the right to an education; and

     WHEREAS, high-stakes testing in public education has, for some public educators, created a negative atmosphere; and

     WHEREAS, some public educators have found the tests may be age-inappropriate, inconsequential to children's learning, not useful in providing instruction to educators and not useful in the determination of teacher evaluation scores; and

     WHEREAS, standardized tests are linked to state standards that have resulted in a significant cost to New Mexico taxpayers, lost instructional time in classrooms and a negative impact on New Mexico students; and

     WHEREAS, limited public resources for education have been diverted away from the classroom to out-of-state initiatives; and

     WHEREAS, the network for public education is a national advocacy group whose goal is to fight to protect and strengthen public school systems as essential institutions in a democratic society; and

     WHEREAS, the American federation of teachers has requested a delay in the implementation of high-stakes testing due to concerns regarding perceived equality and age-inappropriateness; and

     WHEREAS, it is important for concerned community members to protect, preserve, promote and strengthen public schools and the education of current and future generations of students; and

     WHEREAS, the national education association-Santa Fe is hosting an education powerhouse conference in Santa Fe on February 28, 2015 to educate the public about the implications of current policies in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 28, 2015 be declared "New Mexico Education Powerhouse Conference Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education, the legislative education study committee and the president of the national education association-New Mexico.

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