HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 62

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Nathan P. Cote

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN.

     WHEREAS, the average child of a military family attends six to nine different school systems during the child's school career; and

     WHEREAS, children of military families are often placed incorrectly in grades because their official transcripts come from other states or overseas, and some districts will not accept unofficial transcripts until official transcripts arrive; and

     WHEREAS, children of military families often face obstacles to graduating on time or in participating in honors or advanced placement courses because of different graduation and course requirements in the different states; and

     WHEREAS, children of military families often face obstacles to participating in extracurricular activities because of their late arrival during the school year or because of perceptions that they will only remain at a school temporarily; and 

     WHEREAS, children of military families deserve the same opportunities for educational success and advancement as other children attending public schools in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is an attempt on the part of states to coordinate their efforts to remove educational barriers facing children of military families;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that, if House Bill 311, or similar legislation of the forty-ninth legislature, first session, does not become law, the public education department be requested to convene a task force that includes teachers and administrators from school districts with a high concentration of military children, representatives of the military community, a representative from the attorney general's office and other relevant and interested parties to review and make recommendations regarding the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force determine which components of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children are currently being substantially implemented in New Mexico and which components are not currently being substantially implemented; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force study the implications of enacting the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, including the monetary and legal obligations imposed by the compact and any areas of state law that will be superseded by the compact; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force examine available methods, other than the enactment of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, for removing educational barriers facing children of military families; and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings to the public education department and the legislative education study committee by October 1, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education and the legislative education study committee.

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