REQUESTING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AN ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE SYSTEM TO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO EMPLOY NON-DEGREED NATIVE AMERICANS AND OTHERS TO TEACH NATIVE LANGUAGES AND CULTURE, ART, MUSIC AND SIMILAR DISCIPLINES.

WHEREAS, successful academic programs should include challenging curricula that are validated by students' personal experiences in the classroom; and

WHEREAS, Native American children begin their public school education with strong cultural, linguistic and socio-emotional experiences; and

WHEREAS, research shows that a hands-on holistic teaching approach that integrates art, music and other disciplines in the school curricula prepares all students, regardless of ethnicity, for a diverse and complex world; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the arts, successful schools share common characteristics that include the integration of meaningful subject matter, test preparation and community involvement into the general curriculum; and

WHEREAS, school districts with high percentages of Native American students employ a majority of non-Native American teachers who may require training within the Native American cultural and linguistic context to provide culturally significant educational experiences for Native American students; and

WHEREAS, teaching of various Native American languages and cultures within the public schools would provide validation and enrichment of the Native American public school experience, which would lead to higher student achievement; and

WHEREAS, many tribal members who are not licensed teachers are able and available to teach the native languages and cultures of their communities within the school environment and many individuals who are not licensed teachers are able and available to teach art, music and other disciplines;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state board of education develop an alternative teaching licensure system and rules that allow school districts to employ non-degreed Native Americans to teach native languages and cultures of their respective communities and other non-degreed qualified individuals to teach art, music and other disciplines as deemed necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state board of education develop an alternative teaching licensure system and rules that allow school districts to employ licensed Native American teachers who possess New Mexico teaching licenses for any grade level or discipline to teach native languages and cultures of their respective communities and other licensed teachers who possess New Mexico teaching licenses for any grade level or discipline to teach art, music and other disciplines as deemed necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state board of education report its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by October 2001; and

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