HOUSE MEMORIAL 63

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

INTRODUCED BY

Richard D. Vigil

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP TO FUND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN DUAL CREDIT, DISTANCE LEARNING AND ON-LINE DUAL CREDIT COURSES AND WHO ARE ATTENDING PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION-FUNDED SCHOOLS.

     WHEREAS, the legislature created the lottery success scholarship and the lottery tuition fund in 1995 to encourage New Mexico students to pursue post-secondary education; and

     WHEREAS, the amount of money in the fund currently exceeds annual scholarship disbursements; and

     WHEREAS, the higher education department is responsible for the distribution of financial aid to support equitable access to college for New Mexico students, including disbursements from the lottery tuition fund, and in 2008 oversaw the distribution of close to seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000); and

     WHEREAS, the dual credit program in New Mexico allows public high school students in school districts, charter schools and state-supported schools to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously; and

     WHEREAS, district and local funding provided to support students enrolled in dual credit courses, including on-line dual credit courses, is not sufficient to support projected enrollment; and

     WHEREAS, schools run by the bureau of Indian education are providing essential support to increase the numbers of Native American students to pursue post-secondary education; and

     WHEREAS, distance learning courses that are offered in New Mexico schools extend opportunities to students, particularly in rural areas, to pursue post-secondary education; and

     WHEREAS, students enrolled in dual credit programs, including on-line dual education courses, bureau of Indian education-funded schools and distance learning programs currently do not qualify for access to lottery scholarships; and

     WHEREAS, enhanced access to the lottery scholarship fund can improve the public education of New Mexicans and is an important step to increase the number of college graduates in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the higher education department, together with the public education department, coordinates policies and resources for the education of New Mexico youth from kindergarten through post-secondary education;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the higher education department be requested to create a task force to study the feasibility of using the lottery scholarship to fund educational opportunities for students who are enrolled in dual credit, distance learning and on-line dual credit courses and who are attending public high schools and bureau of Indian education-funded schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representation from the governor's office, the lieutenant governor's office, the Indian education division of the public education department, school district superintendents, community colleges and universities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study identify opportunities to increase collaboration among state agencies serving students in dual credit programs, bureau of Indian education-funded schools and distance learning programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the findings and recommendations of the study be presented to the interim legislative education study committee and the legislative finance committee by October 1, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the office of the governor, the office of the lieutenant governor, the higher education department and the Indian education division of the public education department.

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