44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PORTION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULA TO IMPROVE THE SUPPLY, RETENTION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS.

WHEREAS, teacher attrition and teacher retirements are increasing the demand for new teachers in schools in New Mexico and across the nation; and

WHEREAS, the supply of quality teachers prepared by New Mexico's universities is insufficient to meet the schools' demands for a highly qualified and diverse teacher labor force; and

WHEREAS, the availability of state funds and their allocation and use by the universities affect the universities' ability to supply new teachers and to assist in their retention and professional growth; and

WHEREAS, the commission on higher education's funding formula and rules may inhibit the establishment of new and expanded programs of teacher preparation, teacher retention and teacher professional development; and

WHEREAS, the university budgets may not be attaching sufficiently high priority to the state's need to assure the preparation of highly qualified teachers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the commission on higher education be asked, in cooperation with the state board of education and representatives of the universities, public schools and the teaching profession, to conduct a study to assess the adequacy of the instructional portion of the higher education funding formula, commission rules and university budgeting practices in order to identify opportunities and needs to improve the supply, retention and professional development of teachers, particularly in areas of critical need; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study examine the cost of each cluster of disciplines to determine whether sufficient funds are provided to maintain high quality programs, including outreach programs, with particular attention to the amount of funding that is distributed to colleges of education and teacher preparation programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all public two- and four- year post-secondary educational institutions be required to submit any necessary data to the commission on higher education in order to allow for the completion of the cost model by December 31, 2000; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education report its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by November 1, 1999; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the commission on higher education, the superintendent of public instruction, the presidents of the four-year public post-secondary educational institutions and the director of the legislative education study committee.