SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 39

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

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING HISPANIC PARTICIPATION ON STATE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION COMMITTEES AND REQUESTING POLICY SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF HISPANIC STUDENTS.

     WHEREAS, the public school system of New Mexico is over fifty-three percent Hispanic; and

     WHEREAS, 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

     WHEREAS, this poor educational profile has implications for the economic future of the state; and

     WHEREAS, it is clear that barriers to the educational success of Hispanic students continue to exist;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department and the higher education department be encouraged to include ENLACE New Mexico representatives on their committees to ensure that the educational issues of Hispanic students are being considered; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ENLACE New Mexico, Somos un Pueblo Unido and El Centro de la Raza work during the interim to make recommendations to the legislative education study committee for policy changes that will remove barriers to the education of Hispanic students across the educational pathway, pre-kindergarten through college in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretaries of public education and higher education, ENLACE New Mexico, Somos un Pueblo Unido and El Centro de la Raza.

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