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

REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO MAINTAIN SEPARATE STATISTICS DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN STUDENTS WHO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND STUDENTS WHO EARN A GRADUATE EQUIVALENCY DEGREE.

WHEREAS, the state department of public education annually prepares and publishes a report on public and private education in the state and distributes the report to the governor and the legislature; and

WHEREAS, many students in this state are dropping out of school and electing to seek a general equivalency diploma rather than a high school diploma; and

WHEREAS, the state department of public education is considering the maintenance of records that would fail to distinguish between students who have earned graduate equivalency degrees and those who have earned high school diplomas, thus skewing the state dropout rate;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state department of public education be required to maintain separate records and statistics distinguishing between students who receive a high school diploma and students who earn a graduate equivalency degree; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state department of public education report its annual statistics distinguishing between students who receive a high school diploma and students who earn a graduate equivalency degree to the governor and the legislature prior to December 1 of each year in accordance with Subsection D of Section 22-2-6 NMSA 1978; and

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