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A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, THE PUBLIC
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO
DEVELOP A PLAN TO ENHANCE THE RECRUITMENT, PREPARATION,
MENTORING, EVALUATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT
FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS.
WHEREAS, the 2003 school reform legislation placed more
responsibility for personnel and instruction upon principals
and superintendents; and
WHEREAS, more recent legislation in 2007 increased the
minimum salaries of school principals and assistant
principals according to a responsibility factor; and
WHEREAS, research shows that the influence of effective
school leadership is second only to classroom instruction
among school-related factors affecting student learning; and
WHEREAS, recruitment, preparation, mentoring,
evaluation, professional development and support are as
important for school leaders as they are for teachers, and
New Mexico does not have a statewide, coordinated approach
for the recruitment and retention of school leaders or their
professional development; and
WHEREAS, a joint study during the 2007 interim by the
legislative education study committee, the legislative
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finance committee and the office of education accountability
of the department of finance and administration identified a
number of challenges for school leadership and recommended
the creation of a systematic plan for the recruitment,
preparation, mentoring, evaluation, professional development
and support for school principals and other school leaders;
and
WHEREAS, this joint study found that one-half of New
Mexico schools have had three or more principals in the last
ten years and thirty-five percent of districts have had three
or more superintendents in the last four years; and
WHEREAS, this study also found that, according to the
education commission of the states, New Mexico requires more
years of teaching experience to obtain an administrator's
license than other states;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the office of education
accountability of the department of finance and
administration, the public education department and the
higher education department be requested to collaborate with
school districts and institutions of higher education to
develop a plan to enhance the recruitment, preparation,
mentoring, evaluation, professional development and support
for school principals and other school leaders in order to
ensure an adequate supply of effective school leaders; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan include such
components as a review of successful strategies used in other
states for the identification and recruitment of individuals
with leadership potential; an examination of whether existing
requirements for school administrator licenses limit the pool
of potential school leaders; and the development of ongoing
procedures to monitor, coordinate and strengthen professional
development for school leaders, with a focus on professional
development for principals of schools in need of improvement;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of education
accountability of the department of finance and
administration, the public education department and the
higher education department report their findings and
recommendations to the legislative education study committee
by November 1, 2008; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, before the plan is
implemented, it be reviewed by the legislative education
study committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the secretary of public education, the
secretary of higher education, the secretary of finance and
administration and the director of the legislative education
study committee.