Welcome to the Legislative Education Study Committee



Senator
Cynthia Nava
Chair
Representative
Rick Miera
Vice-Chair


Overview

The Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) was created in 1965 as a permanent committee of the New Mexico Legislature, authorized by statute to
conduct a continuing study of all education in New Mexico, the laws governing such education and the policies and costs of the New Mexico educational system . . . , recommend changes in laws relating to education, . . . and make a full report of its findings and recommendations. . . .
The LESC is composed of 26 legislators (10 voting, 16 advisory) appointed to provide proportionate representation of both houses and political parties. Assisted by a permanent staff, the committee meets regularly during the interim between legislative sessions to study education issues. To fulfill its statutory responsibilities, the LESC attempts to provide all legislators with objective information pertaining to New Mexico public schools as well as to state and national education trends.

OPERATIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

Work During the Legislative Interim. During any particular interim, issues studied by the LESC are identified by the committee or individual legislators, or they are requested by the Legislature through legislative memorials.

The office of the LESC is located in Santa Fe, where the meetings are often held. The committee also regularly travels to other communities to visit local school representatives in their home facilities and to invite wider public participation in LESC meetings. Typical meetings consist of reports by the LESC staff; the Public Education Department, the New Mexico Higher Education Department, or other invited experts; and testimony from various parties interested in a particular issue. This process ensures that committee meetings serve as forums at which school personnel and other citizens can present their opinions on education matters to legislators.

LESC staff provide support for all of the committee's functions, conduct research, prepare reports, and present findings and recommendations to the committee at its regularly scheduled meetings. Staff also are available to assist individual legislators in assembling and presenting information about education, analyzing potential legislation, and assisting in other ways related to their legislative responsibility.

Each year, the LESC provides the Legislature with a report of its activities, summarizing the findings of interim studies and the recommendations of the committee for action during the upcoming legislative session. The report is distributed to the Legislature and to all local school districts and education agencies. It is also available to the public.

Finally, the office of the LESC serves as a resource to New Mexico citizens, particularly to public schools, as well as to other states and national organizations seeking information about education in New Mexico. Utilizing local, state, and national resources, networks, and databases, staff provide information to legislators, education policy makers, and local school districts and education agencies; staff also assist school personnel with their requests related to education.

Work During Legislative Sessions. The major responsibilities of LESC staff during legislative sessions are to assist the education and finance committees of the two houses as well as other committees by providing analyses of public school-related legislation under consideration and by supplying technical support in the development of public school support appropriations. Staff prepare statistical and graphical analyses of both financial and program aspects of the New Mexico educational system. Staff also assist individual legislators in the initial stages of drafting legislation and help legislators analyze potential advantages and disadvantages of measures under consideration.