HOUSE MEMORIAL 25

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Rebecca Dow and Alonzo Baldonado

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE BENEFITS AND FUNDING OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

     WHEREAS, the ability to have school choice is about the fundamental right of parents to have access to the educational environment that serves their children best; and

     WHEREAS, parents should have a wide range of high-quality schools or educational options to choose from, such as traditional public schools, public charter schools, private schools or virtual learning; and

     WHEREAS, in "School Choice: A Defining Social Justice Issue", the late Bishop Joseph P. McFadden stated that for parents, providing an education for their children is a moral obligation, but that some parents, especially in low-income families, have no choice but to send their children to a school that may not be helping them reach their potential; and

     WHEREAS, every child deserves access to a quality education that provides the knowledge, skills and values necessary to prepare them for a successful career and fulfilling life; and

     WHEREAS, because of where they live, many children are assigned to schools that may not fit their unique needs and learning styles; and

     WHEREAS, a system of free public schools sufficient for the education of, and open to, all children of school age should be established and maintained; and

     WHEREAS, to provide additional options for school choice, the constitution of New Mexico would need to be amended, with the approval of congress, to allow for the distribution of public school funding to parents or legal guardians of school-age children for home school or private school or for public school distance education under certain circumstances; and

     WHEREAS, in searching for ways to provide school choice, New Mexico is urged to support equitable access to education choices by supporting the ability to choose one or more schools in one or more settings offered by one or more providers;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to study the benefits and funding of school choice; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to consider the feasibility of amending the constitution of New Mexico, with the approval of congress, to allow for the distribution of public school funding to parents or legal guardians of school-age children for home school or private school or for public school distance education under certain circumstances; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department, at least one parent of a private school student, at least one parent of a public charter school student, at least one parent of a home school student, at least one parent of a traditional public school student, one representative from the New Mexico association of nonpublic schools, one representative from the New Mexico conference of Catholic bishops and one representative from the American federation for children be requested to assist the legislative education study committee as required; 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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