A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE AND COST OF PERFORMING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE STATE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY COST SAVINGS AS WELL AS ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL FACILITATE INCREASED STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT.

WHEREAS, a well-educated citizenry is an essential component of New Mexico's economic well-being; and WHEREAS, state education tax dollars should be spent as efficiently as possible in a manner that yields optimal learning environments and performance results from students, teachers and schools; and

WHEREAS, a world-class education system is marked by resource efficiency, including maximizing the dollars reaching the classroom, teacher excellence, accountability, performance criteria and measurable student achievement; and WHEREAS, to the extent possible, any cost savings generated within the state education system as a result of improved operational processes should be redirected toward improving the performance of students, schools and teachers; and

WHEREAS, education investment decisions should be prudently made, accountably administered and strategically focused to yield demonstrable results that produce maximum value for each dollar invested; and

WHEREAS, reducing the bureaucracy and associated costs of New Mexico's education system will help provide much of the funding necessary to implement crucial education reform initiatives;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to determine the scope and cost of performing a comprehensive review of the state public education system by the appropriate state agency or department to identify cost savings as well as organizational and process improvements that will facilitate increased student performance and achievement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to report its scope and cost estimate for the comprehensive study to the legislative finance committee no later than October 1, 2003; and

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