HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 21

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Janice E. Arnold-Jones

A JOINT MEMORIAL

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR MANDATORY YEARLY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.

     WHEREAS, education is the key to the twenty-first century, both in terms of economic prosperity and personal achievement; and

     WHEREAS, today's new economy is knowledge-based, entrepreneurial and globally competitive to an extent that was almost unimaginable even a decade ago, yet New Mexico students lag significantly in most measures of elementary and secondary

academic success, thus imperiling both their individual prospects and those of the state; and

      WHEREAS, a competitive, technically capable work force is

essential to New Mexico's economic future, and a reasonable

level of mathematics and science awareness among its population is an ever more important part of good civic decision-making; and

     WHEREAS, a well-prepared, well-motivated, dynamic teaching corps and knowledgeable school administrators are the single most important components to providing public kindergarten through twelfth grade mathematics and science education at an outstanding level to New Mexico's young people; and

     WHEREAS, it has been clearly demonstrated nationwide that a robust, yearly, sustained program of professional development is an essential component in creating and maintaining kindergarten through twelfth grade mathematics and science teachers and school administrators at a high level of preparedness in both matters of pedagogy and in up-to-date mathematics and science content; and

     WHEREAS, such a program of professional development is one of the seven principal components of New Mexico Project 2012, a proposal for comprehensive, transformational change in the way kindergarten through twelfth grade mathematics and science education is carried out in New Mexico's public schools; and

     WHEREAS, the state already has provided approximately two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) each year for 2007, 2008 and 2009 for the beginning phases of the reading, mathematics and science summer institutes professional development program;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it express its support for a thorough study of the positive impacts to be expected when establishing such a program of mandatory professional development for kindergarten through twelfth grade mathematics and science teachers and school administrators; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to have the study conducted under the guidance of its mathematics and science bureau; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a proposed time line for implementing such a program of mandatory professional development, an estimate of the associated costs as the program moves from initial implementation to final realization and an evaluation of how the program would affect, and be affected by, other aspects of the academic year that must be given equal consideration, such as the requirement for one hundred eighty days of classroom instruction; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the public education department, the legislative education study committee and the coalition of school administrators for appropriate distribution.

- 3 -