44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CREATION OF AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR COORDINATING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATION OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES.

WHEREAS, experts in early childhood education cite coordination of efforts among agencies and providers as the key to efficient, continuous service and optimal investment of resources; and

WHEREAS, the benefits of the varied early childhood education programs licensed or administered by the various public agencies in New Mexico could be enhanced by greater statewide coordination; and

WHEREAS, the interagency coordinating group was created by statute to assist the secretary of children, youth and families and the children, youth and families advisory committee in planning the coordination of services; and

WHEREAS, the interagency coordinating group consists of the secretaries of health, labor, human services and finance and administration; the superintendent of public instruction; the chairman of the legislative health and human services committee; and a member of the governor's office; and

WHEREAS, employees of the children, youth and families department, the state department of public education, the department of health and the human services department formed the early childhood interagency action team to share information, to draft position papers and to collaborate on certain projects;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee, in cooperation with the interagency coordinating group and the early childhood interagency action team, organize an early childhood education task force to develop a comprehensive plan for the most efficient and effective means of coordinating early childhood education services statewide and to make recommendations regarding the administration and regulation of early childhood education services, including where the services should be housed, what standards the services should follow, how the services should be monitored and how the services could be most effectively funded; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the early childhood education task force report its findings and recommendations to the legislative education study committee by October 1, 1999; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretaries of human services, health, labor, finance and administration and children, youth and families; the state superintendent of public instruction; the governor; and the directors of the legislative education study committee and the legislative council service.