HOUSE MEMORIAL 47

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Tanya Mirabal Moya and Brian G. Baca

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.

     WHEREAS, fewer than one in four students in New Mexico are proficient in reading and mathematics, according to the 2024 national assessment of educational progress, which ranked New Mexico as the lowest in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, Martinez/Yazzie v. State of New Mexico successfully challenged the constitutional sufficiency of New Mexico's public school system, with the court finding that:

          A. a large proportion of New Mexico's students in kindergarten through twelfth grade are "at-risk", meaning they live in poverty, have disabilities, are English language learners or are part of historically marginalized Native American communities;

          B. New Mexico has an achievement gap between students who are at-risk and students who are not at-risk, meaning that students who are at-risk perform lower on reading and mathematics assessments, are less likely to graduate from high school on time or attend and complete college and have lower future earning capacities; and

          C. New Mexico has a critical need for highly effective teachers to serve students who are at-risk to close the achievement gap; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico continues to have a high number of teacher vacancies and an increasing turnover rate for teachers; and

     WHEREAS, more teacher candidates are pursuing alternative pathways to licensing and have little to no classroom experience prior to becoming teachers; and

     WHEREAS, research shows that teachers are the most important school-related factor that influences student outcomes; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico also has an increasing turnover rate for school administrators; and

     WHEREAS, research shows that school administrators are the second most important school-related factor that influences student outcomes; and

     WHEREAS, the success of public schools depends on the hard work and dedication of all school employees, including educational assistants, instructional support providers, bus drivers, food service providers, custodians, security personnel and many others; and

     WHEREAS, school districts and charter schools report difficulty staffing all positions necessary for a school to function and concerns about salary compaction for school employees, particularly among teachers and school administrators; and

     WHEREAS, health insurance premiums for New Mexico school employees continue to increase and reduce the impact of recent salary increases approved by the legislature; and

     WHEREAS, despite recent salary increases, a study by the Massachusetts institute of technology found that many school employees in New Mexico earn salaries below a living wage; and

     WHEREAS, fair and competitive compensation is key to improving school employee recruitment and retention, particularly for highly effective teachers and school administrators;

     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 study compensation for public school employees, including how salary competitiveness, compaction and sustainability affect recruitment and retention; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to collaborate with the public education department, educator preparation programs, the legislative finance committee, school districts and charter schools, teachers' unions and teachers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to make public a report on the findings, conclusions and recommendations from the study and submit the report to the governor and the legislature by December 31, 2025; and

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

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