A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT A SPANISH COMPETENCY EXAM BE REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATION BY THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

     WHEREAS, early in 2004, the public education department asked several persons to assist in the development of a Spanish proficiency test for teachers for certification in the teaching of Spanish; and

     WHEREAS, a committee was formed with various members, including university professors, administrators and Spanish teachers from the state; and

     WHEREAS, the committee met with a national evaluation system representative to develop a Spanish proficiency test; and

     WHEREAS, the committee requested that the national evaluation system exam questions be written in Spanish, as it is the committee's belief that the purpose of the Spanish test is to measure Spanish proficiency and persons should not be penalized for their lack of English proficiency; and

     WHEREAS, the national evaluation system representative stated that the test would remain as written and indicated that all the foreign language tests were in English; and

     WHEREAS, in an attempt to find a solution to the dilemma, it was recognized by committee members that New Mexico has a good Spanish proficiency exam assessing the four skills of a language proficiency: reading, writing, comprehension and production; and

     WHEREAS, the test is Prueba, the New Mexico Spanish language proficiency exam, which was produced here in New Mexico by New Mexicans with the language and accent typical of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the test was normed in New Mexico and has been taken by many students and teachers in the state; and

     WHEREAS, if Prueba is accepted as the New Mexico Spanish proficiency test for certification of the teaching of Spanish, many individuals who have completed the required twenty-four hours in Spanish, and have passed Prueba, would be licensed to teach Spanish in schools; and

     WHEREAS, this would save money for many persons who would not be required to pay the national evaluation system to take the Spanish test; and

     WHEREAS, persons would be assessed in the language the Spanish proficiency test intends to measure; and

     WHEREAS, the public education department would not have to spend additional dollars in developing a test in Spanish or in both languages; and

     WHEREAS, persons would be given the opportunity to take Prueba or the Spanish national evaluation system;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Spanish competency exam required for the certification of Spanish be Prueba, as well as the Spanish national evaluation system; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that individuals who have already passed Prueba and have taken the required twenty-four hours of college course work required by the public education department should receive their certification in the teaching of Spanish; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that individuals who have passed Prueba and have not completed the twenty-four required college hours will receive the Spanish certification upon completion of the required college hours; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the public education department.