HOUSE MEMORIAL 12

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

INTRODUCED BY

Joy Garratt and Patricia Roybal Caballero

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES FOR IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND BILINGUAL EDUCATION.

 

     WHEREAS, school districts throughout the state support diverse and bilingual cultural education; and

     WHEREAS, the Albuquerque public school district has three dual-language magnet schools, including Coronado elementary, Longfellow elementary and Hayes middle school, and more than sixty other traditional schools that offer dual-language programs; and

     WHEREAS, two hundred sixty-six high school students who graduated from the Albuquerque public school district in 2019 earned a bilingual seal by completing at least eight credits in Spanish and eight credits in English with a minimum grade point average of 2.0; and

     WHEREAS, Christine Duncan heritage academy, Cien Aguas international school, Corrales international school, New Mexico international school and Tierra Adentro are charter schools that offer dual-language programs; and

     WHEREAS, dual language education of New Mexico, the indigenous language institute at Santa Fe Indian school and other organizations promote diverse and cultural education; and

     WHEREAS, students who attend racially and socioeconomically diverse schools develop the ability to communicate across different cultures and are more likely to reject stereotypes, adopt multiple perspectives, develop cross-racial friendships and seek interactions in diverse situations; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico embraces diverse and bilingual cultures that influence industry partnerships and workforce connections;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of public education be requested to convene a working group of representatives from magnet, charter and traditional public schools and educational organizations that support diverse and bilingual culture to share best practices for implementing school programs that support cultural diversity and bilingual education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be requested to make a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee; and

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

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