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A JOINT MEMORIAL

STRENGTHENING THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO

ENLACE AND NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY'S COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

SERVICE TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF HISPANIC STUDENTS.

WHEREAS, the public school system of New Mexico is more

than fifty-three percent Hispanic, and the achievement gap of

Hispanic students continues at an unacceptably high rate; and

WHEREAS, college attendance rates are low, resulting

from the inadequate preparation of Hispanics at the pre-

kindergarten through grade twelve level, and this poor

educational profile has implications for the economic future

of the state; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico state university's mission is to

serve the educational needs of New Mexico's diverse

populations and is the state's land grant college, and the

federal Morrill Act reflects the belief that "American social

and economic development could best be served if higher

education were made broadly available to the citizenry"; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico state university's cooperative

extension service has a presence in all counties of New

Mexico; and

WHEREAS, parental involvement is crucial to the

educational success and excellence of Hispanic students, and

Hispanic families want their children to stay in and succeed

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in school but are unsure of the many ways that they can help;

and

WHEREAS, the college of agriculture and home economics

cooperative extension service currently provides workshops and

information on a variety of issues to serve the people of New

Mexico;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico state university

cooperative extension service and southern New Mexico ENLACE

explore ways to integrate the ENLACE parent university

workshops into their scope of work to assist Hispanic parents

to become "coaches" and "advocates" for their children's

success and excellence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the New Mexico state university cooperative

extension service and southern New Mexico ENLACE.