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A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THAT THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT UNDERTAKE A
STUDY OF THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF ESTABLISHING AN ALTERNATIVE
PATHWAY TO LICENSURE FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.
WHEREAS, research shows that the work of school
administrators has a powerful impact on student achievement,
second only to the quality of curriculum and teaching among
school-related factors that influence learning; and
WHEREAS, a growing body of evidence indicates that
leadership is the make-or-break factor for schools and school
districts under increasing pressure to produce dramatic
improvements in student performance; and
WHEREAS, many of the qualities of effective leadership
are universal, including the ability to articulate a clear
vision, build an effective team united around ambitious
goals, marshal the resources needed to achieve those goals,
communicate effectively with internal and external
constituencies and keep the organization on course as it
moves forward; and
WHEREAS, at a time when state and federal educational
accountability systems have made effective school leadership
vitally important, New Mexico schools and school districts
face a shortage of successful leaders and an unacceptably
high rate of turnover among school principals and
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superintendents; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, the New Mexico legislature included in
its comprehensive package of school reforms the creation of a
three-tiered teacher licensure system that rightly encourages
master teachers to remain in the classroom if they wish
rather than move into administrative positions, thus
potentially adding to the administrator shortage; and
WHEREAS, the three-tiered licensure system provides for
candidates with appropriate educational credentials to earn a
level one teaching license through alternative licensure by
demonstrating competencies, but no parallel provision exists
for alternative licensure of school administrators in
New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, at least twenty states in the union have
enacted laws or established policies providing for
alternative licensure for school principals or school
district superintendents, and several other states are
considering similar measures;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be
requested to study whether an alternative pathway to
licensure should be created in New Mexico for school
administrators and to develop a model or models for
alternative level three-B licensure; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education
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department provide a written report of its findings and
recommendations regarding establishing an alternative pathway
to licensure for school administrators to the legislative
education study committee no later than November 1, 2007; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
transmitted to the secretary of public education and the
director of the legislative education study committee.