HOUSE MEMORIAL 9

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Debra M. Sariñana

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY OPTIONS TO ENSURE THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE READY TO ADVANCE TO HIGH SCHOOL OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, ARE RETAINED, AND OPTIONS TO REDUCE TEACHER TURNOVER.

     WHEREAS, according to a report by the public education department in 2015, student achievement in eighth grade has a greater impact on college and career readiness than performance in any other grade in high school; and

     WHEREAS, the middle school grades, including sixth, seventh and eighth, mark a critical time to engage students in a rigorous academic curriculum in preparation for high school and, eventually, post-secondary education and careers; and

     WHEREAS, according to the 2015 public education department report, New Mexico middle schools are struggling with student performance, programming and funding; and

     WHEREAS, middle schools are often not equipped to meet the social and emotional needs of young adolescents; and

     WHEREAS, the state is lacking academic programming and financial resources for middle school students, according to the public education department study; and

     WHEREAS, middle school teachers are often generalists with a kindergarten through eighth grade license, do not possess an endorsement in a core subject matter and lack training in the development of young adolescents; and

     WHEREAS, some middle school students graduate to the ninth grade without acquiring the academic, social and emotional skills needed for a successful transition to high school; and

     WHEREAS, ninth grade teachers must then address the educational needs of those students who are promoted from the eighth grade and are lagging behind their peers in the ninth grade; and

     WHEREAS, many ninth grade teachers are frustrated with assisting students who were promoted from middle school without the required educational readiness needed to progress; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has the second-highest teacher turnover rate in the country, according to a recent study conducted by the learning policy institute; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to study options to ensure middle school student readiness to advance to high school or, in the alternative, to consider retaining students; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to study ways to reduce teacher turnover in New Mexico;

     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 convene a study group in conjunction with the public education department and the legislative finance committee to study options to ensure middle school student readiness to advance to high school or, in the alternative, to retain students who do not fulfill the requirements to advance; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group be requested to study ways to reduce teacher turnover in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to produce a report on its findings, conclusions and recommendations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report be presented to the legislative finance committee by October 1, 2017; and

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

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