HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 11

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Miguel P. Garcia

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ELIMINATE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT OF THE SPANISH GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TESTS.

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico general educational development testing program of the public education department administers the general educational development tests to persons who have not graduated from an accredited high school; and

     WHEREAS, general educational development certificates are issued to residents who have successfully completed the general educational development tests; and

     WHEREAS, to successfully complete the general educational development tests, a person must pass tests in writing, social studies, science, mathematics and art and literature; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico general educational development testing program of the public education department also administers a Spanish language version of the general educational development tests; and

     WHEREAS, the program requires persons taking the Spanish language version of the general educational development tests to pass an English proficiency subject in addition to the writing, social studies, science, mathematics and art and literature subjects required by the English language version of the general educational development tests; and

     WHEREAS, the additional subject matter is burdensome to test takers who choose to take the Spanish language version of the general educational development tests because they are not yet proficient in English; and

     WHEREAS, other states do not impose the additional English proficiency requirement on general educational development test takers; and

     WHEREAS, several employers require at least a general educational development certificate or a high school diploma for certain positions of employment; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico residents who did not successfully complete the general educational development tests due to the English proficiency requirement must compete with job applicants from other states who successfully completed the general educational development tests in other states without meeting an English proficiency requirement; and

     WHEREAS, in-state residents who choose to improve their academic and economic status by taking the general educational development tests should not be penalized for taking the tests in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, eliminating the English proficiency requirement from the general educational development tests in New Mexico will reduce the inequities that burden in-state test takers;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to eliminate the English language proficiency requirement necessary for successful completion of the general educational development tests; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education and the program director of the general educational development testing program of the public education department.

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