SENATE MEMORIAL 81

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

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, GIFTED EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A GIFTED EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT ON TEACHING LICENSES.

     WHEREAS, studies show that gifted students have unique needs that require accommodations and modifications at school; and

     WHEREAS, it is important that public schools meet the needs of gifted students and help them to realize their potential and maintain their motivation to learn; and

     WHEREAS, research shows that in order to meet these needs, gifted education teachers must be specifically trained and highly qualified; and

     WHEREAS, highly qualified gifted education teachers are not only better prepared to meet the needs of gifted students but are a resource to general education teachers to assist in the differentiation of instruction to the benefit of all students; and

      WHEREAS, in New Mexico, during the 2006-2007 school year, over thirteen thousand students were identified as gifted and were provided services by over seven hundred gifted education teachers, even though the state licensure system does not fully recognize the special requirements and talents of teachers of gifted students;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to collaborate with state institutions of higher learning, gifted education organizations and the legislative education study committee to determine the requirements and competencies for a gifted education endorsement on teaching licenses; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department take into consideration the existing coursework at the colleges of education at the state institutions of higher education that offer specialized gifted education programs for students; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department's study consider endorsement competencies for gifted education teachers, such as those proposed in the Technical Assistance Manual for Gifted Education in New Mexico, and existing portfolio guidelines for gifted education, such as those developed by the New Mexico association for the gifted; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study also identify assessments currently available in gifted education that could be adopted within New Mexico as an appropriate gifted education examination that would demonstrate that gifted education-

endorsed teachers are highly qualified, such as the "Education Testing Service PRAXIS II Gifted Exam"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the public education department, the deans of the colleges of education at the state institutions of higher learning, the New Mexico association for the gifted and the legislative education study committee.

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