44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - 2nd special session, 2000

FOR THE EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND ACCOUNTABILITY TASK FORCE

REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO DESIGN A STATEWIDE READING INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE READING PROFICIENCY.

WHEREAS, the education initiatives and accountability task force was established in 1999 by the New Mexico legislative council; and

WHEREAS, the task force has determined that reading proficiently at grade level is its number one priority to be addressed by the 2000 legislature; and

WHEREAS, one of the many goals of the education initiatives and accountability task force is for all students in New Mexico to meet or exceed standards for reading proficiently at grades three through graduation; and

WHEREAS, the education initiatives and accountability task force desires that by New Mexico's one hundredth birthday of statehood, in 2012, all students graduate from high school multilingual and prepared for higher education and productive careers; and

WHEREAS, reading, or the inability to do so, is inextricably tied to the student dropout rate and many of the social problems that go along with students dropping out of school; and

WHEREAS, studies show that children who cannot recognize their names in writing before they start kindergarten are already behind in learning to read; and

WHEREAS, studies show that children who cannot read are disadvantaged in competing for jobs in today's high technology work force, cannot make intelligent consumer choices or cannot participate fully as citizens;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that, to improve reading proficiency in the state of New Mexico, the state department of public education design a statewide reading initiative in the year 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the superintendent of public instruction involve reading specialists, teachers, parents and others in the design process of the reading initiative; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the design of the reading initiative focus on providing consistent assessment and evaluation of student reading levels, providing appropriate staff development at the public schools and school districts to assist teachers in the instruction of the reading initiative program and providing extra time in the student's day for the implementation of reading programs that reflect quality, research-based programs shown to improve reading proficiency; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the design of the reading initiative also focus on rewarding teachers and staff in schools and districts that are improving student success; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the superintendent of public instruction report to the legislative education study committee and the appropriate legislative interim committee about the designed reading initiative by August 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chairman of the legislative education study committee, the chairman of the appropriate legislative interim committee, the president of the state board of education and the superintendent of public instruction.