REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN ASSESSMENTS AND CURRICULA FOR NATIVE AMERICAN BILINGUAL PROGRAMS AND TO STRENGTHEN LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN BILINGUAL TEACHERS.

WHEREAS, the legislature desires that students in the state achieve multilingual proficiency by becoming proficient in English and one other language; and

WHEREAS, the legislature desires that, along with other languages, New Mexico students have the opportunity to become proficient in Native American languages; and

WHEREAS, in order to provide students with the opportunity to become proficient in Native American languages, assessments and curricula for Native American bilingual programs need to be provided, as well as additional teachers certified to teach Native American languages; and

WHEREAS, state department of public education rules do not currently provide for assessments and curricula for Native American bilingual programs; and

WHEREAS, because of a lack of training programs in New Mexico and excessive costs associated with training out of state, state department of public education licensure requirements for teachers of bilingual programs do not encourage teachers to become certified in Native American bilingual programs;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state department of public education be requested to develop and strengthen assessments and curricula for Native American bilingual programs within its rules; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state department of public education be requested to strengthen its Native American licensure requirements and to encourage more teachers to become licensed to teach Native American languages through training programs in New Mexico or by assisting teachers in becoming certified out of state; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the superintendent of public instruction.