HOUSE MEMORIAL 15

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Christine Trujillo

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW ACADEMIC ACCELERATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

     WHEREAS, academic acceleration options such as early entry to kindergarten, grade skipping, single-subject acceleration, faster-paced courses, dual and concurrent credit courses, early entry to college and credit for demonstrated mastery are among the most effective and best-researched educational interventions; and

     WHEREAS, grouping of similarly able students for acceleration of school curriculum has been shown to have positive social and academic impacts; and

     WHEREAS, grouping of gifted students exposes them to an appropriately challenging curriculum and provides an opportunity for functional social interactions; and

     WHEREAS, gifted students are often separated from their similarly able peers and placed in general education classrooms; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico does not have a state policy on acceleration; and

     WHEREAS, local school boards determine whether and to what extent acceleration is permitted; and

     WHEREAS, while acceleration costs less than many other educational interventions, acceleration is often underutilized because not all school districts have acceleration policies, existing district-level acceleration policies vary widely and dual credit memoranda sometimes prevent students from taking available dual-credit courses; and

     WHEREAS, giftedness is supported in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial for the state to allow for early entry into kindergarten, award credit for demonstrated mastery and establish needs and research-based interventions for gifted and high-ability learners as a priority for expending Every Student Succeeds Act funds; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial if school boards would adopt a policy for academic acceleration that specifies a range of available options, specifies non-discrimination and inclusiveness of all students and empowers teams that identify gifted students and those with disabilities and all other students to make acceleration decisions; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial for schools to include procedures for appeal and due process, safe reversion of placement if the acceleration is ineffective, group and accelerate gifted and high-ability students for their individual needs, provide special supports for disadvantaged and disabled students to participate in acceleration and accept accelerated credit or college credit toward graduation from all accredited schools;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to research options to allow for early entry into kindergarten, permit credit for demonstrated mastery and establish needs and research-based interventions for gifted and high-ability learners as a priority for expending Every Student Succeeds Act funds; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local school boards be requested to consider the adoption of policies for academic acceleration that specify a range of available options, that provide for non-discrimination and inclusiveness of all students and empower teams that identify gifted students and students with disabilities and all other students to make acceleration decisions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that school boards be requested to consider: the inclusion of procedures for appeal and due process; safe reversion of placement if acceleration is ineffective; grouping and accelerating gifted and high-ability students as appropriate for their individual needs; provision of special supports for disadvantaged and disabled students, thus allowing them to participate in acceleration; and acceptance of accelerated credit or college credit toward graduation from all accredited schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and the secretary of public education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education be requested to transmit copies of this memorial to school districts and charter schools.

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