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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to House Bill 81

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

State Department of Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 8 requests the State Department of Public Education (SDE) to develop and strengthen assessments and curricula for Native American Bilingual Programs and to strengthen licensure requirements for Native American bilingual teachers.

Significant Issues

This memorial requests that the SDE: 1) provide bilingual programs and to develop assessments and curricula for students to become proficient in Native American languages; 2) strengthen Native American teacher licensure requirements; 3) provide training programs to encourage more teachers to become licensed to teach Native American languages; 4) assist out of state teachers to become certified; and 5) distribute copies of this memorial to the superintendent of public schools.

State Board of Education Initiatives

The State Board of Education (SBE) passed teacher competencies for certification in Modern, Classical and Native languages in July 2000. The ESL and bilingual teacher competencies were passed in June 1999.

In addition to the Bilingual teacher endorsement, an alternative process for endorsement in the Native Language is available by demonstrating language proficiency through means other than a written test.

The SBE passed the Navajo Language Proficiency Test as an endorsement for bilingual certification in 1986. The Navajo Language Proficiency test was developed by the Navajo Community College in Tsaile, Arizona and approved by the Dine/Navajo Tribe in 1978.

The Pueblo Language endorsement for Bilingual was passed by the SBE in 1990.

In 1998-99, there were 714 statewide bilingual endorsed teachers. The ethnic breakdown includes 11 Native Americans, 596 Hispanics, 1 Black, and 106 Anglo teachers, not including current waivers. SBE data supports the need for more Native American bilingual teachers.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation in HJM 8. However, according to the SDE Indian Education Unit, department staff will be unable to perform the additional duties outlined in this bill without additional resources. The department can administer professional services contracts to accomplish these goals, but such costs will result in an indeterminate recurring expense to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to the SDE, if this bill is passed as proposed, it will require the agency to perform the duties applicable to this memorial at the expense of other department responsibilities.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

This bill relates to House Bill 81 which pertains to providing for more stringent competency requirements for teachers and school principals and providing for licensure of certain school employees.

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