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.166483.1

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 27

48

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald P. Ortiz y Pino

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION

WITH THE CHILDREN'S CABINET, STUDY THE CREATION AND OPERATION

OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, community school students show significant gains

in academic achievement and in essential areas of nonacademic

development; and

WHEREAS, families of community school students show

increased stability, communication with teachers and school

involvement; and

WHEREAS, parents of community school students demonstrate

a greater sense of responsibility for their children's learning

success; and

WHEREAS, community schools enjoy stronger parent-teacher

relationships, increased teacher satisfaction, a more positive

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.166483.1

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school environment and greater community support; and

WHEREAS, community schools promote better use of public

school buildings and their neighborhoods enjoy increased

security, heightened community pride and better rapport among

students and residents;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department, in

conjunction with the children's cabinet, be requested to study

the need for and possible approaches to structuring community

schools in the state's public schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include:

A. identification of challenges and problems that

New Mexico faces in reaching its educational goals;

B. inventory of community-schools-type programs at

public school sites funded by different sources, such as

municipal and county governments, foundations and other

private-sector groups;

C. assessment of how those programs are addressing

problems in their public schools and communities;

D. evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of

those programs;

E. review of community school models in other

states;

F. identification of key dimensions to implementing

community schools in New Mexico, including program models, core

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.166483.1

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activities, cost per student, governance and partnership models

and staffing patterns;

G. costs of implementing community schools in New

Mexico and funding sources other than public school funding;

and

H. consideration of state policies that are needed

to implement community schools in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department and the children's cabinet involve public schools,

local governments and community stakeholders in rural, urban

and suburban school districts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department and the children's cabinet work closely with the

funding formula study task force and its contractor, the

American institutes for research, while conducting the study;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department and the children's cabinet report their findings and

recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the public education department; the secretary

of children, youth and families for further distribution to the

children's cabinet members; the legislative education study

committee; and the legislative council service for further

distribution to the American institutes for research.