HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 2

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Gay G. Kernan

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CREATION OF A CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING OF CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALIGNED TO WORKFORCE NEEDS AND TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF FUNDING CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, education provides the foundation for students to enter and succeed in their chosen fields of employment; and

     WHEREAS, all students need employability skills and knowledge to meet standards that have been identified for each career pathway; and

     WHEREAS, career technical education classes of all kinds are increasingly seen as roads to additional study after high school and are meant to be more academically rigorous; and

     WHEREAS, new labor market realities reflect a shifting, and increasingly automated, economy that offers few jobs for those without some kind of post-secondary training, credential or degree; and

     WHEREAS, career technical education prepares students for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies and makes academic content accessible by providing hands-on experiences in various industry sectors; and

     WHEREAS, developing high-quality career technical education programs requires expertise in career fields, knowledge of the academic content foundations of career decisions, employability skills aligned to workforce employment, post-secondary requirements for credentials and degrees, opportunities for work-related experiences and apprenticeships and partnerships with local employers and post-secondary educational institutions; and

     WHEREAS, public schools have indicated a desire to develop career technical education programs to increase education options for their students but lack funding to develop and implement programs that meet the needs of their students and the local or regional labor market; and

     WHEREAS, funding for career technical education programs requires equipment and often specialized student work areas; and

     WHEREAS, developing career technical education programs requires a multi-year commitment from schools and school districts to adequately prepare students to complete their programs, earn a credential, certification or degree and find employment; and

     WHEREAS, funding for career technical education has been limited and not available statewide, creating inequities; and

     WHEREAS, high-quality career technical education programs have been shown to increase graduation rates and contribute to improved academic achievement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee and the legislative finance committee be requested to convene a career technical education task force to examine the funding requirements of developing career technical education programs statewide and to provide a report on the status of career technical education in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to assist the career technical education task force and include as members representatives who have technical knowledge of, and expertise in, career technical education, including the following:

          A. six members who are middle and high school teachers engaged in career technical education;

          B. four members who are school principals, superintendents, school board members or other education administrators familiar with career technical education;

          C. two enrolled members of Indian nations, tribes or pueblos;

          D. five members of the employment sector;

          E. two higher education faculty members familiar with career technical education;

          F. one member of the senate, appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate; and

          G. at least one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the career technical education task force be requested to present its findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public education, the secretary of higher education, the chair of the legislative education study committee and the chair of the legislative finance committee.

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