45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A NEW LICENSING STRUCTURE FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

WHEREAS, New Mexico is facing an impending shortage of qualified persons capable of filling vacant principal positions due to retirements, job dissatisfaction, lack of qualified candidates, increased job expectations and compensation that is not commensurate with job responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, educational research has established that the role of the principal has changed significantly over the past two decades; from the primary role as building manager to today's role of principal as instructional leader; and

WHEREAS, schools must have principals capable of leading staff and students in providing the best possible education for all students; and

WHEREAS, school boards and other policymakers should become more innovative in the way they structure school leadership and provide school principals with the authority to adequately meet the demands placed on them; and

WHEREAS, the need to have principals and administrators who are qualified to lead schools and improve student achievement is essential for highly successful schools; and

WHEREAS, some schools are experimenting with changing their administrative structures, such as combining the duties and elements of assistant principal or principal positions with the duties and elements of school counselor into one position to better address student needs and reduce the student-to-adult administrator ratio, which has resulted in positive changes in schools and school districts that have implemented such reforms; and

WHEREAS, the current license structure for school administrators has not been changed since the early 1980s and does not allow for distinctions to be made between superintendents, principals and other administrators, nor does it make allowances for schools to restructure the manner by which they provide leadership;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state board of education study the feasibility of establishing a new license structure for school administrators that makes distinctions between superintendents, principals and other administrators and provides flexibility so that schools may be able to reorganize their administrative structure with alternate models to better meet the needs of their schools and students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state board of education report its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by November 1, 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the superintendent of public instruction and the director of the legislative education study committee for appropriate distribution.