HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 10

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

John A. Heaton

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE STUDY THE SUITABILITY OF THE STANDARDS USED BY THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.

     WHEREAS, school leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to student learning, according to current research; and

     WHEREAS, research also shows that there are virtually no documented instances of troubled schools being turned around without intervention by a powerful instructional leader; and

     WHEREAS, just as leaders can have a positive impact on achievement, they also can have a marginal or, worse, a negative impact; and

     WHEREAS, one measure of the need for effective instructional leadership in New Mexico public schools is the growing number of schools that the public education department has designated as in need of improvement based on the standards established by the legislature in the Assessment and Accountability Act, which have increased from one hundred thirty-two schools in 2004-2005 to two hundred thirty-eight in 2005-2006, with a projected increase to approximately three hundred fifty-two in 2006-2007; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature recognized the importance of leadership in achieving school reform in 2003 when it elevated the authority of superintendents to the role of chief executive officers in their school districts and provided more authority to principals in their schools; and

     WHEREAS, recent research has called into question the fitness of school leadership training programs at post-secondary educational institutions throughout the United States to prepare administrators for the challenging task of leading schools and school districts to excellence; and

     WHEREAS, through the responsibility placed upon it by statute to license school administrators, the public education department has the responsibility to approve educational leadership programs at post-secondary institutions in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the public education department has approved licensure, master's and doctoral degree programs in school leadership at nine public and private post-secondary educational institutions and requires these programs to undergo periodically a review for renewal;

     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, the higher education department and instructional leaders in the field, be requested to study the standards used by the public education department to approve school leadership programs to ensure that graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to manage instructional improvement and make a positive impact on student achievement in the current school environment; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study be completed with findings and recommendations by October 2006; and

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

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