SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 36

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY TO STUDY THE PRACTICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF ADDING INCREMENTAL INCREASES TO SCHOOL DAYS AND THE EFFECT OF THOSE INCREASES ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

     WHEREAS, the Public School Code requires that each school district provide a minimum number of instructional days per school year, adjusted according to grade level; and

     WHEREAS, the Public School Code provides an equivalence between the minimum number of instructional days and hours; and

     WHEREAS, the Public School Code allows school districts to adopt variable school calendars; and

     WHEREAS, local school boards are authorized to approve individual school calendars and determine school policy in general; and

     WHEREAS, some schools have added small increments of time to individual school days to compensate for time lost due to inclement weather, to allow early dismissal on one day of the week or to provide time for teacher professional development and other activities; and

     WHEREAS, the public education department notes that it is questionable whether students receive the benefit of instructional hours with such incremental increases;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the office of education accountability, in collaboration with the public education department, public school districts and charter schools, be requested to study the practice of increasing the length of the school day in small increments to determine how common or widespread the practice is; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study also examine the effect of this practice on professional development for teachers and learning time and achievement of students; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of education accountability report its findings and recommendations, if any, to the legislative education study committee before September 30, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the office of education accountability, the secretary of public education and the director of the legislative education study committee.

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