REQUESTING A STUDY OF CHILD-CARE COMPENSATION RATES BY A TASK FORCE LED BY THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT.

WHEREAS, research shows that quality early care and education of young children result in improved educational outcomes and lives and reduced need for special education and delinquency programs; and

WHEREAS, continuity of caregivers and educators is key to providing quality educational experiences for young children; and

WHEREAS, compensation is a central element in the decision of early childhood education and family support professionals to stay in or leave the field; and

WHEREAS, the current low compensation for early childhood education and family support professionals is the major reason for the high turnover rate in this field; and

WHEREAS, successful models for increasing compensation and staff retention exist in other states;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department convene a task force to study the means to increase compensation for early childhood education and family support professionals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department include in the task force representatives of early childhood education and family support professionals, advocates of these professions, representatives of head start programs, elementary and higher education and the department of health; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force review successful models of compensation from other states and develop a plan to increase compensation for those professionals so that their salaries are commensurate with those with equivalent educational requirements in other fields; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and recommendations to the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative education study committee at their October 2001 meetings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the secretary of children, youth and families, the secretary of health, the director of the legislative education study committee and the interim legislative health

and human services committee.