HOUSE MEMORIAL 66

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

INTRODUCED BY

Antonio "Moe" Maestas

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP LEGISLATION TO REDUCE THE STATE'S HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE BY CREATING A SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS AND BY ESTABLISHING A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR INNOVATIVE EFFORTS BY EDUCATION PROVIDERS.

     WHEREAS, the economic future of the state of New Mexico will depend upon the educational attainment and knowledge base of its work force; and

     WHEREAS, the secretary of public education said that forty thousand New Mexico students have dropped out of high school in the last four years; and

     WHEREAS, the governor said that a forty-six percent high school dropout rate is unacceptable; and

     WHEREAS, the house of representatives believes that aggressive work is needed to ensure that all children in New Mexico attend a school that will transform their lives by helping them to achieve their full potential; and

     WHEREAS, the employment prospects for students without a high school diploma are bleak; and

     WHEREAS, Hispanic students represent fifty-six percent of the total enrollment in New Mexico public schools, and there exists a persistent and substantial gap in academic achievement between Hispanic students and non-Hispanic Anglo students in the state; and

     WHEREAS, states like Florida have sharply reduced this achievement gap through innovative education programs, including a scholarship tax credit program; and

     WHEREAS, more than fifty percent of the students enrolled in public schools in New Mexico qualify for free or reduced-price lunches; and

     WHEREAS, the educational options available to low-income students are narrower given their families' modest incomes; and

     WHEREAS, a scholarship tax credit program would allow these families to send their children to the public or private school best suited to their educational needs; and

     WHEREAS, the savings from a well-designed scholarship tax credit could be used to provide grants to public and private education providers to help minority students finish their studies and obtain a high school diploma;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to develop, by November 2010, legislation for consideration in the 2011 legislative session that will create a scholarship tax credit program and establish a competitive grant program for innovative efforts by public and private education providers to help minority students finish their studies and obtain a high school diploma; and

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

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