HOUSE MEMORIAL 99

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Rick Miera

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO FORM A WORK GROUP TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF FULLY FUNDING THE FORMULA FOR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

     WHEREAS, twenty-six adult education centers around New Mexico enrolled nineteen thousand three hundred sixty-four students for academic year 2012-2013; and

     WHEREAS, adult education centers help students to learn basic literacy and numeracy skills, earn a high school equivalency certificate, learn English as a second language and prepare for college and careers and also learn how to obtain and keep a job; and

     WHEREAS, the higher education department reports an overwhelming need for adult education services based on 2012-2013 enrollment data indicating that ninety-one percent of the students served functioned below the secondary school level, including second-language speakers, and only nine percent were able to function at the adult secondary educational level; and

     WHEREAS, in the 2012-2013 academic year, adult education programs in New Mexico produced one thousand eight hundred fifty-four high school graduates, and more than eight hundred fifty adult education students enrolled in college and career training; and

     WHEREAS, adult education provided New Mexico employers an enhanced work force of more than one thousand adults; and

     WHEREAS, more than four hundred thousand adults in New Mexico have their opportunities limited because of their lack of education or English-speaking skills, two hundred and forty thousand of whom have not finished high school; and

     WHEREAS, adult education centers report more than one thousand eligible students on waiting lists for services and twenty-four communities or community organizations requesting adult education services; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to growing enrollment, adult education programs and students face increased costs to obtain credentials because three out of four students are below the poverty level; and

     WHEREAS, the higher education department reports a high return on investment, estimating that the state receives five hundred sixty-six percent return on investment in savings on public welfare services and increased income taxes for its annual general fund appropriation;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the higher education department, in cooperation with the legislative education study committee and the legislative finance committee, be requested to form a work group to study the feasibility of fully funding the formula for adult education programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the higher education department appoint members to the work group who represent the New Mexico adult education association, the national council of the state directors of adult education, community-based adult education organizations, the New Mexico association of community colleges, the New Mexico independent community colleges, community college finance offices, the director of institutional research at the university of New Mexico, the adult basic education division of the higher education department, the legislative finance committee and the legislative education study committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff for the work group be provided by the higher education department, the legislative education study committee and the legislative finance committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work group compile data on the need for adult education services in New Mexico, base funding costs per program, cost per student served and performance-based funding incentives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work group recommend a fully funded formula based on a full workload that is adjusted annually; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work group present its recommendations to the legislative education study committee by August 1, 2014; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of higher education, the directors of the legislative education study committee and the legislative finance committee, the director of institutional research at the university of New Mexico, the executive director of the New Mexico independent community colleges, the president of the board of the New Mexico association of community colleges and the president of the New Mexico adult education association.

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