HOUSE MEMORIAL 48

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Tara L. Lujan

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO LEAD A COMPREHENSIVE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION-TO-CAREER PIPELINE STUDY, INCLUDING HIGH-QUALITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, AND REPORT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE.

 

     WHEREAS, in 2019, as in previous years, core-subject proficiency levels across the state were extremely low, with data showing that in grades three through twelve, thirty-five percent of students were proficient in science, thirty-three percent were proficient in reading and twenty percent were proficient in mathematics; and

     WHEREAS, science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs are in high demand in New Mexico and in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, public schools and public post-secondary educational institutions both offer career readiness programs that develop students' communication, critical thinking and time management skills as well as emotional intelligence and that enable students to enter directly into the workforce after graduation, not just for entry-level work, but for career success in the long term; and

     WHEREAS, the early childhood education and care department, public education department, higher education department and workforce solutions department have established "RISE NM", research informing success in education, to create a centralized resource that will be used to inform policy and close gaps as students transition from each phase of their education and into the workforce; and

     WHEREAS, to be effective, science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers need professional development that is content-focused, incorporates active learning and supports collaboration and coaching, and that professional development must be sustained over time, providing repeat opportunities for feedback and reflection; and

     WHEREAS, for ongoing professional development to produce high-quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics-focused teachers who stay in the classroom, public schools and public post-secondary educational institutions must work collaboratively to strategically support and implement a professional development system that fills in gaps in knowledge and sustains educator growth; and

     WHEREAS, for students, extended learning encompasses programs and strategies that are implemented to increase the amount of instruction and learning, including in- and after-school and summer programs, and that provide an opportunity for science, technology, engineering and mathematics-focused additional time, which can be beneficial to students, but only if that time is spent in ways that maximize teaching and learning; and

     WHEREAS, the development of research on evidence-based programs is critical to determine the most effective extended learning programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department, the higher education department and the workforce solutions department be requested to conduct a comprehensive science, technology, engineering and mathematics education-to-career pipeline study, which includes an inventory of current programs and initiatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the departments provide the inventory to the legislative finance committee and the legislative education study committee by September 1, 2023; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to work with the higher education department and the workforce solutions department to address the statewide science, technology, engineering and mathematics teacher shortage crisis and to build a highly qualified, effective and diverse science, technology, engineering and mathematics teacher workforce; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department report the findings and recommendations of the study and the plan for a science, technology, engineering and mathematics education-to-career pipeline to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2023; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor; the chair of the legislative education study committee; the chair of the legislative finance committee; the secretary of public education for distribution to local superintendents; the secretary of higher education for distribution to public post-secondary educational institutions; and the secretary of workforce solutions.

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