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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IN

CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHILDREN'S CABINET, STUDY THE CREATION

AND OPERATION OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, community school students show significant

gains in academic achievement and in essential areas of

nonacademic development; and

WHEREAS, families of community school students show

increased stability, communication with teachers and school

involvement; and

WHEREAS, parents of community school students

demonstrate a greater sense of responsibility for their

children's learning success; and

WHEREAS, community schools enjoy stronger parent-teacher

relationships, increased teacher satisfaction, a more positive

school environment and greater community support; and

WHEREAS, community schools promote better use of public

school buildings and their neighborhoods enjoy increased

security, heightened community pride and better rapport among

students and residents;

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

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department, in

conjunction with the children's cabinet, be requested to study

the need for and possible approaches to structuring community

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schools in the state's public schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include:

A. identification of challenges and problems that

New Mexico faces in reaching its educational goals;

B. inventory of community-schools-type programs at

public school sites funded by different sources, such as

municipal and county governments, foundations and other

private-sector groups;

C. assessment of how those programs are addressing

problems in their public schools and communities;

D. evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of

those programs;

E. review of community school models in other

states;

F. identification of key dimensions to

implementing community schools in New Mexico, including

program models, core activities, cost per student, governance

and partnership models and staffing patterns;

G. costs of implementing community schools in New

Mexico and funding sources other than public school funding;

and

H. consideration of state policies that are needed

to implement community schools in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department and the children's cabinet involve public schools,

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local governments and community stakeholders in rural, urban

and suburban school districts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department and the children's cabinet work closely with the

funding formula study task force and its contractor, the

American institutes for research, while conducting the study;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education

department and the children's cabinet report their findings

and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2007;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the public education department; the secretary

of children, youth and families for further distribution to

the children's cabinet members; the legislative education

study committee; and the legislative council service for

further distribution to the American institutes for research.