46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, concurrent enrollment refers to enrollment of secondary-level students in academic and vocational courses at post-secondary institutions, which allows students to receive credit at the high school and post-secondary levels; and

WHEREAS, conditions for concurrent enrollment are defined as having a written agreement between the cooperating public school district and the post-secondary institution; and

WHEREAS, Laws 1990, Chapter 25, amended language specifying that the public school district shall transfer to the post-secondary institution attended by the high school student the tuition and fees if the student is counted in the membership of the public school district and receives high school credit for coursework taken at the post-secondary institution; and

WHEREAS, for several years, concerns have been expressed to the state board of education and the commission on higher education about the state's concurrent enrollment program; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, the commission on higher education and the state department of public education developed electronic surveys that gathered information on the concurrent enrollment program; and

WHEREAS, the survey data supports the opinion that at the higher education and school district levels, as well as in local partnerships, there is confusion and inconsistency in program implementation; and

WHEREAS, many of the concurrent enrollment agreements, as reported in the survey and analyzed by staff, are not in compliance with requirements for funding, indicating inconsistencies in eligibility requirements, payment, curriculum levels and faculty arrangements; and

WHEREAS, despite questions about the kinds of coursework that can be taught under concurrent enrollment agreements, a review of the curriculum has yet to be conducted to determine if classes include the appropriate level of instruction being taught on campus; and

WHEREAS, requests have been made by post-secondary institutions, school districts and students' parents to have the state review, clarify and coordinate efforts;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the commission on higher education and the state department of public education be requested to work in collaboration with appropriate organizations to improve the state's concurrent enrollment program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission on higher education and the state department of public education be requested to develop a statewide advisory committee to:

A. obtain input from students, parents, school administrators and post-secondary concurrent enrollment administrators;

B. review and make policy recommendations to the commission on higher education and the state department of public education;

C. review the concurrent enrollment program from a systemic approach and create a more "customer-friendly" approach to support students who can benefit from an accelerated learning experience;

D. develop a policy that establishes acceptable course content areas, including consideration of tuition transfer, for the concurrent enrollment program;

E. establish methods for both agencies to collect and share information;

F. create a means for program accountability, possibly through enrollment verification visits to the post-secondary institutions and accreditation visits to the schools;

G. develop a plan to disseminate program information to stakeholders and provide incentives to participate in the program; and

H. review statutory changes that may be needed to ensure program and funding consistency based on the recommendations developed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the statewide advisory committee be presented to the legislative education study committee by November 30, 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the commission on higher education, the state department of public education and the legislative education study committee.