A
JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THAT THE LEGISLATIVE
EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE CONSIDER THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AND OVERSEE THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF LICENSURE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ENDORSEMENT OF SCHOOL-BASED
BILINGUAL PRACTITIONERS IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND IN AUDIOLOGY.
WHEREAS, the state of New
Mexico takes pride in the diversity of its people, languages and cultures and
promotes bilingualism in its constitution; and
WHEREAS, the legislature
recognizes the unique educational needs of bilingual students with
communication disorders, such as stuttering, impaired articulation and delayed
language proficiency, who receive speech and language pathology services or
audiology services in their native languages to support their educational
performance; and
WHEREAS, the use of promising
new techniques by bilingual practitioners in the assessment and treatment of
linguistically and culturally diverse students with communication disorders
ensures quality service delivery by providing the knowledge to prevent
inappropriate placement of students in special education and by supporting
intervention performed in the students' native languages, thus promoting
optimal learning and educational success; and
WHEREAS, in order to provide
students with specialized services, qualified bilingual practitioners must be
effectively recruited, trained and retained in school districts across the
state, and their qualifications must be recognized by the school districts to
ensure that bilingual practitioners' salaries are commensurate with those
afforded to other bilingually endorsed professionals;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education
study committee oversee the development and implementation of licensure
qualifications for the endorsement of school-based bilingual practitioners in
speech and language pathology and in audiology; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
legislative education study committee oversee the collaboration between the
state department of public education, the speech language pathology, audiology
and hearing aid dispensing practices board and the New Mexico speech-language
and hearing association to establish criteria and competencies for the
endorsement of bilingual practitioners in speech and language pathology and in
audiology and their language proficiency and specialized training in bilingual
assessment and intervention; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
collaborators produce a cost-analysis of establishing a bilingual endorsement
that includes the cost of implementing educational programs to train
individuals wishing to pursue the endorsement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
collaborators present their findings and recommendations to the legislative
education study committee and the state board of education by October 1, 2003;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative
education study committee, the president of the state board of education, the
superintendent of public instruction, the speech language pathology, audiology
and hearing aid dispensing practices board and the New Mexico speech-language
and hearing association.