SENATE MEMORIAL 88

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

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO STANDARDIZE A PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT CARD AND A SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT CARD AND TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND TIMELY DATA FROM THOSE REPORT CARDS IN A STATEWIDE ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT.

     WHEREAS, the public expects accountability from public schools; and

     WHEREAS, having accurate and timely data about the progress, performance and efficiency of public schools can help families make informed decisions about their participation and engagement; and

     WHEREAS, having accurate, detailed and timely data can help public schools and school districts make more effective decisions about the management of schools; and

     WHEREAS, it is difficult to assess accountability and appropriate means and levels of participation and engagement in schools without adequate disclosure from public schools, school districts and the public education department;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to develop a standardized public school accountability report card for public schools to use and a standardized school district accountability report card for school districts to use; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to develop, prepare and post on its web site an up-to-date statewide accountability report card that incorporates information from the public school accountability report cards and school district accountability report cards, including:

          A. estimated expenditures per student and types of services funded;

          B. results of the statewide standards-based assessments, by grade level;

          C. student achievement in and progress toward meeting reading, writing, mathematics, science and other academic goals, disaggregated by race, gender, ethnicity and disability status;

          D. average verbal and mathematics scholastic assessment test scores, disaggregated by race, gender, ethnicity and disability status;

          E. the one-year dropout rate, disaggregated by race, gender, ethnicity and disability status;

          F. progress toward reducing dropout rates, disaggregated by race, gender, ethnicity and disability status;

          G. the percentage of pupils in kindergarten and grades one through three attending classes for which the minimum class size has been waived;

          H. the annual number of school days dedicated to professional development;

          I. the suspension and expulsion rates for the most recent three-year period, disaggregated by race, gender, ethnicity and disability status;

          J. graduation rates calculated pursuant to a formula approved by the United States department of education, disaggregated by race, gender, ethnicity and disability status;          K. the status of title I program improvement, if applicable;

          L. the status of special education performance on the state performance plan, if applicable;

          M. the extent to which highly qualified teachers are teaching classes in core content areas;

          N. progress toward reducing class sizes and teaching loads;

          O. school discipline practices and the climate for learning;

          P. qualified substitute teacher availability;

          Q. the teacher evaluation process and opportunities for professional improvement;

          R. teacher and staff training and curriculum improvement programs;

          S. local assessment results;

          T. family engagement;

          U. college admission test preparation programs;

          V. instruction and leadership;

          W. actual instructional time;

          X. any assignment of teachers outside the teachers' subject areas of competence;

          Y. the availability of qualified personnel to provide counseling and other student support services; and

          Z. the safety, cleanliness and adequacy of school facilities; and

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

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