SENATE MEMORIAL 87

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A PARENT ENGAGEMENT OFFICE TO INCREASE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

     WHEREAS, parental involvement is integral to student success; and

     WHEREAS, the southwest educational development laboratory synthesized ten years of research from fifty-one studies and found that students whose parents are involved in their education are more likely to:

          A. earn higher grades and test scores and enroll in higher-level programs;

          B. pass their classes and be promoted to the next grade;

          C. attend school regularly;

          D. have better social skills, show improved behavior and adapt well to school; and

          E. graduate and go on to post-secondary education; and

     WHEREAS, advisory school councils are mandated in law to foster parental and community involvement and stakeholding in schools; and

     WHEREAS, advisory school councils, which consist of the school leader and an equitable balance of public school staff, parents and community members, could provide more assistance to schools by developing and implementing public school improvement plans; and

     WHEREAS, determining additional ways to engage parents would further benefit schools and improve student progress; and

     WHEREAS, since most parents need and want to be heard, soliciting and collecting feedback from parents through efficacy surveys would enhance parents' roles as stakeholders; and

     WHEREAS, efficacy surveys would provide valuable information to public school leaders and teachers about current levels of parental participation and areas in which additional parental participation would help students and the public school;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be encouraged to study the feasibility of establishing a parent engagement office to:

          A. maximize the parental involvement efforts of public schools;

          B. collect data on parental involvement;

          C. review and monitor school district parental involvement policies and family engagement action and implementation plans;

          D. develop corrective action plans for public schools and school districts regarding family engagement;

          E. advise school districts on integrating activities that will encourage parental involvement in public schools; and

          F. collect data about family involvement in each public school activity, such as band boosters, athletic boosters, academic decathlon supporters and the advisory school council, in order to determine the activities that need more parental involvement; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education.

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