SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 51

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

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE BILINGUAL MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION ACT TO BETTER SERVE THE STUDENTS IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act ensures equal education opportunities for students in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the state appropriated more than thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) in the 2003 academic school year to provide for the educational needs of linguistically and culturally different students, including Native American students, in grades kindergarten through twelve; and

     WHEREAS, the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act requires that the state give funding priority to bilingual muliticultural education programs for grades kindergarten through three in a public school or any combination of public schools in a school district; and

     WHEREAS, the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act mandates that state funding support bilingual multicultural education programs for culturally and linguistically different students in grades kindergarten through twelve for whom there is an identifiable need to improve their language capabilities; and

     WHEREAS, the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act mandates that state funding support the use of two languages as part of instruction within the curriculum at the grade levels within the program; and

     WHEREAS, the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act allows only teachers who have specialized in elementary or secondary education and who have received specific training in bilingual education to teach in bilingual multicultural education programs; and

     WHEREAS, the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act emphasizes the importance of the history, culture and heritage associated with the student's home language; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative finance committee conducted an audit of the state's bilingual multicultural education program in late 2003 and recommended that the legislature consider amending the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act to clarify program purpose and to provide direction on program priorities; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature is committed to reforming the education system to ensure that education funding is well-spent and reduces the achievement gap among students in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee, in collaboration with the public education department, be requested to conduct a feasibility study to determine potential changes to the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act to better serve the students in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee report its findings to the legislative finance committee by November 2004; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the legislative education study committee, the public education department and the legislative finance committee.

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