HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 13

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE ON THE PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES OF THE EDUCATOR QUALITY COUNCIL.

     WHEREAS, national research indicates that the single most important factor influencing student achievement is teacher quality; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature has found that teachers and other education professionals play a key role in any reform effort and has acknowledged their importance in the educational process; and

     WHEREAS, Section 22-10A-4 NMSA 1978 states that teaching and school administration are recognized as professions, with all the rights, responsibilities and privileges accorded professions, having their first responsibility to the public they serve; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature supports efforts to accord the education profession those rights, responsibilities and privileges; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature has enacted a three-tiered licensure system and other measures designed to elevate the teaching profession to ensure that every student in New Mexico is taught by highly qualified teachers; and

     WHEREAS, the enactment of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requiring that all teachers of core academic subjects be highly qualified by the 2005-2006 school year further reflects the importance of quality teaching; and

     WHEREAS, the quality of teacher preparation programs, the effectiveness of educator licensure procedures and the disposition of educator professional ethics cases are issues that affect the quality of teachers in the public schools and, so, are of concern to the legislature, public school districts, professional educators and the public; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature has by law delegated to the public education department the power of the state to determine the qualifications for and to issue licenses to teachers, instructional support providers and school administrators; and

     WHEREAS, the professional standards commission, a nineteen-member advisory group established through rule, formerly served as an advisory panel to the state board of education on approval and accreditation of teacher preparation programs, adoption of educator licensure rules and the disposition of professional ethic cases; and

     WHEREAS, due to governance changes at the public education department resulting from the approval by the people of Constitutional Amendment 1 in the special election in 2003, the rule providing for the professional standards commission was repealed; and

     WHEREAS, in order to promote the recognition of the education profession in accordance with Section 22-10A-4 NMSA 1978, the public education department has adopted a new rule to establish the professional practices and standards council; and

     WHEREAS, the professional practices and standards council will have a majority of practicing educators as members and otherwise support the education profession as a recognized profession;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be commended for taking steps to recognize the education profession; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to report to the legislative education study committee on the progress of development of procedures and processes of the professional practices and standards council and other efforts to promote the autonomy of the education profession; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education and the director of the legislative education study committee for appropriate distribution.

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