46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

WHEREAS, an estimated two hundred thirty thousand New Mexicans need literacy and adult basic education services at this time; and

WHEREAS, only by addressing the literacy needs of the adults in the state can New Mexico move forward in statewide and rural economic development; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico's adult basic education programs administered locally through the state's system of community colleges, tribal colleges and various other community-based organizations and agencies are important for addressing the state's significant literacy problems; and

WHEREAS, the need to improve adult literacy rates dramatically is recommended as a top priority of the New Mexico business roundtable for educational excellence, in conjunction with the commission on higher education and the national center for public policy and higher education, also known as the collaborative; and

WHEREAS, the success of New Mexico's adult basic education program is linked to efficient management and coordination of services, adequate funding support, instructional and program innovations, development of measurable and meaningful outcomes, and strong working relationships with other agencies that serve adult basic education clients and with employers that could employ successful adult basic education students; and

WHEREAS, as defined in the Post-Secondary Educational Planning Act, post-secondary education includes adult basic education and high school equivalency education, which are administered primarily through the state's post-secondary institutions to a student population that is for the most part adult and, therefore, the programs would more appropriately be administered and supported through the commission on higher education; and

WHEREAS, the Post-Secondary Educational Planning Act also charges the commission on higher education with the development of logical, consistent and equitable organizational and fiscal provisions for the operation of post-secondary education and for the effective utilization of federal, state and local funding available for such education; and

WHEREAS, the commission on higher education recommends to the legislature and the governor that state law be amended to name the commission on higher education as the "eligible agency", as that term is defined in the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, in place of the state department of public education;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that given the transfer of the adult basic education program to the commission on higher education, the commission be requested to study the administrative structure, funding streams, program delivery and data collection methods of the adult basic education program with participation of the New Mexico association of community colleges, other program administrative sites and other agencies involved in the administration of adult basic education and literacy programs for the purposes of determining the appropriate levels of administrative and local support needed for effective program delivery and report such findings to the appropriate committee of the legislature by December 1, 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a state agency with appropriate authority review the adult basic education records of the state department of public education and New Mexico adult education providers for the purpose of financial reconciliation of state and federal adult basic education fund balances for fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year 2003 and that the state agency determine such fund balances for each provider fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year 2003 by September 1, 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a broad-based state advisory council on adult education be considered that would serve in an advisory capacity to the commission on higher education on adult education and literacy planning and policy issues and on any new state plan for adult education and family literacy that would need to be developed in response to upcoming re-authorization efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the commission on higher education and the governor's office.