SENATE MEMORIAL 130

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF UPDATING REQUIRED COMPETENCIES IN MATHEMATICS FOR ENTRY-LEVEL ELEMENTARY TEACHERS.

     WHEREAS, science, technology, engineering and mathematics play an important role in New Mexico's economy; and

     WHEREAS, national laboratories and other key sectors of New Mexico's economy, including the energy development and technology development sectors, are reliant on a work force requiring competencies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and

     WHEREAS, proposals have been made to reduce required competencies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for entry-level elementary teachers; and

     WHEREAS, the proposed reduction points to the urgency of improving the relevance, focus and rigor of New Mexico mathematics competencies for entry-level elementary teachers; and

     WHEREAS, the required competencies in mathematics for entry-level elementary teachers are listed in Section 6.61.2.10 NMAC; and

     WHEREAS, the list of required competencies is used for college course development and licensure tests; and

     WHEREAS, the list of competencies in mathematics for entry-level elementary teachers has not been updated in recent years and requires continued evaluation;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of public education be requested to study the feasibility of updating required competencies in mathematics for entry-level elementary teachers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education be requested to collaborate with a cross-section of experts in mathematics content and pedagogy, including leaders in mathematics instruction from school districts throughout the state and faculty from the colleges of education and the colleges of arts and sciences at the university of New Mexico and New Mexico state university; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education be requested to present a report on progress of the study to the legislative education study committee prior to December 1, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of public education, the secretary of higher education, the chair of the legislative education study committee, the chair of the mathematics and science advisory council and the chair of the New Mexico partnership for math and science education.

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