HOUSE MEMORIAL 57

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO STUDY ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS FOR DETERMINING THE READING READINESS OF STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE.

WHEREAS, most students can succeed in school if they have the basic skills in reading and writing that are appropriate for their grade level; and

WHEREAS, research shows that children who read well in the early grades are far more successful in later years and that those who fall behind often stay behind in academic achievement; and

WHEREAS, students who cannot read well are much more likely to drop out of school and have limited career opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the achievement gap between minority and mainstream children grows wider over the first four years of school; and

     WHEREAS, a longitudinal study indicates that children at risk for reading difficulty who received substantial instructional intervention combined with a research-based comprehensive reading program progressed more rapidly than other students and were reading at close to grade level four years later; and

     WHEREAS, research shows that children scoring low on assessments of phonemic awareness and letter naming at the beginning of first grade started school with lower skills, made less progress and fell farther behind as they progressed from first through fourth grade; and

WHEREAS, reading readiness screening assessments are necessary to identify the reading skills of children early in their education to ensure that they are provided with appropriate learning and intervention strategies;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to study assessment instruments that determine the early reading readiness of students in kindergarten and that incorporate a component to monitor the progress of literacy skills of students in first and second grades; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to study successful instructional strategies that ensure a satisfactory reading readiness level for kindergarten students and that improve the literacy and skill levels for students in first and second grades; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department report its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by December 2006; and

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

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