SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 3

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

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ENHANCE THE RECRUITMENT, PREPARATION, MENTORING, EVALUATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS.

     WHEREAS, the 2003 school reform legislation placed more responsibility for personnel and instruction upon principals and superintendents; and

     WHEREAS, more recent legislation in 2007 increased the minimum salaries of school principals and assistant principals according to a responsibility factor; and

     WHEREAS, research shows that the influence of effective school leadership is second only to classroom instruction among school-related factors affecting student learning; and

     WHEREAS, recruitment, preparation, mentoring, evaluation, professional development and support are as important for school leaders as they are for teachers, and New Mexico does not have a statewide, coordinated approach for the recruitment and retention of school leaders or their professional development; and

     WHEREAS, a joint study during the 2007 interim by the legislative education study committee, the legislative finance committee and the office of education accountability of the department of finance and administration identified a number of challenges for school leadership and recommended the creation of a systematic plan for the recruitment, preparation, mentoring, evaluation, professional development and support for school principals and other school leaders; and 

     WHEREAS, this joint study found that one-half of New Mexico schools have had three or more principals in the last ten years and thirty-five percent of districts have had three or more superintendents in the last four years; and

     WHEREAS, this study also found that, according to the education commission of the states, New Mexico requires more years of teaching experience to obtain an administrator's license than other states;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the office of education accountability of the department of finance and administration, the public education department and the higher education department be requested to collaborate with school districts and institutions of higher education to develop a plan to enhance the recruitment, preparation, mentoring, evaluation, professional development and support for school principals and other school leaders in order to ensure an adequate supply of effective school leaders; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan include such components as a review of successful strategies used in other states for the identification and recruitment of individuals with leadership potential; an examination of whether existing requirements for school administrator licenses limit the pool of potential school leaders; and the development of ongoing procedures to monitor, coordinate and strengthen professional development for school leaders, with a focus on professional development for principals of schools in need of improvement; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of education accountability of the department of finance and administration, the public education department and the higher education department report their findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by November 1, 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, before the plan is implemented, it be reviewed by the legislative education study committee; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education, the secretary of higher education, the secretary of finance and administration and the director of the legislative education study committee.

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