SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 33

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

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

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 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.

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