REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO EARLY CHILDHOOD HIGHER EDUCATION ARTICULATION TASK FORCE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION REGARDING CREDIT FROM POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR PRIOR LEARNING.

WHEREAS, education and many other professions are experiencing difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified personnel; and

WHEREAS, many adults working in the early care and education profession possess competence and knowledge that they have gained through practical assistance; and

WHEREAS, institutions of higher education do not currently systematically recognize or award credit for prior learning and competence; and

WHEREAS, many people with demonstrated knowledge and competence in their profession encounter barriers when attempting to access higher education programs; and

WHEREAS, awarding credit for prior learning includes the demonstration of competence through challenge examinations, portfolios, interviews and other forms of documentation and assessment; and

WHEREAS, the New Mexico early childhood higher education articulation task force has studied a variety of strategies of awarding credit for prior learning that would apply to a variety of disciplines;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico early childhood higher education articulation task force, under the direction of the commission on higher education, be requested to develop a universal process appropriate for all institutions of higher education in New Mexico to award credit for prior learning and present these recommendations to the staff of the commission on higher education by September 30, 2001; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the staff review the task force report and make recommendations to the commission, appropriate legislative committees and the higher education community for broader applications and implementation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the commission on higher education for

appropriate distribution.