HM 44

                                1  HOUSE MEMORIAL 44
                                2    57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  E. Diane Torres-Velásquez and Pamelya Herndon
                                5
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                                10  A MEMORIAL
                                11   REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY
                                12   THE CURRENT STATE OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES, MODELS AND
                                13   POLICIES IN NEW MEXICO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO RECOMMEND
                                14   STRATEGIES FOR SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT.
                                15
                                16        WHEREAS, decades of research demonstrate that effective
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                                17   family engagement in schools is a critical predictor of student
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                                18   success, comparable in influence to teacher quality, school
                                19   leadership and rigorous curriculum; and
                                20        WHEREAS, the principle of "universal family engagement" is
                                21   embraced by the public education department in its family
                                22   engagement policies and practices; and
                                23        WHEREAS, parents from many New Mexico communities may
                                24   experience systemic barriers to family engagement, and these
                                25   barriers may impede access to the social capital and
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                                1    understanding of the education system necessary to take
                                2    effective action on behalf of their children; and
                                3  WHEREAS, the public education department's website
                                4    indicates the vision for family engagement is "To build a
                                5    future where authentic partnerships among families, schools,
                                6    and communities drive equity, connection, and academic success
                                7    for every student across New Mexico"; and
                                8  WHEREAS, family engagement is an ongoing process of
                                9    schools partnering with all families rather than just a select
                                10   few and has been shown to improve school culture, reduce
                                11   teacher burnout and close equity gaps for students from
                                12   historically marginalized communities; and
                                13        WHEREAS, among the priorities of the Hispanic Education
                                14   Act are the improvement of educational systems that affect the
                                15   success of Hispanic students, the encouragement and fostering
                                16   of parental involvement and the provision of mechanisms for
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                                17   parents to work with other stakeholders to improve educational
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                                18   opportunities for Hispanic students; and
                                19        WHEREAS, professional development in family engagement has
                                20   not been prioritized in New Mexico despite research showing
                                21   that students with engaged families are significantly more
                                22   likely to attend school regularly, earn higher grades, enroll
                                23   in advanced courses, demonstrate better social skills and
                                24   graduate on time; and
                                25        WHEREAS, despite its importance, many educators report a
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                                1    lack of formal training in family engagement strategies, with
                                2    national surveys indicating that, while more than seventy
                                3    percent of parents believe teacher training in this area is
                                4    vital, less than twenty percent of teachers report receiving
                                5    the training; and
                                6  WHEREAS, current family engagement practices across New
                                7    Mexico vary significantly by district and school, often relying
                                8    on the efforts of individual educators rather than a systemic,
                                9    supported framework; and
                                10        WHEREAS, the legislative education study committee is
                                11   charged with the continuous study of all matters relating to
                                12   public schools in New Mexico and the recommendation of
                                13   legislation to improve the quality of education;
                                14        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
                                15   REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative
                                16   education study committee be requested to conduct a
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                                17   comprehensive study of family engagement practices across the
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                                18   state during the 2026 interim; and
                                19        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study:
                                20  A.   include an assessment of current family
                                21   engagement frameworks and evidence-based practices used by New
                                22   Mexico school districts and charter schools;
                                23  B.   identify systemic barriers that prevent families
                                24   from meaningfully engaging with their schools;
                                25  C.   include a review of evidence-based "universal
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                                1    family engagement" models and community school frameworks;
                                2  D.   include an analysis of current professional
                                3    development opportunities for teachers and administrators
                                4    regarding family engagement; and
                                5  E.   include recommendations for legislative,
                                6    regulatory or budgetary actions to support systemic family
                                7    engagement, including potential funding mechanisms for
                                8    dedicated family liaison positions in schools or districts and
                                9    teacher and administrator training programs; and
                                10        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education
                                11   study committee be requested to present its findings and
                                12   recommendations to the New Mexico legislative council by August
                                13   31, 2026 and to publish the findings and recommendations on the
                                14   legislative education study committee's website no later than
                                15   September 30, 2026; and
                                16        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
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                                17   transmitted to the:
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                                18  A.   legislative education study committee;
                                19  B.   director of the legislative finance committee;
                                20  C.   governor;
                                21  D.   secretary of public education;
                                22  E.   directors of all bilingual multicultural
                                23   education programs of the language and culture division of the
                                24   public education department;
                                25  F.   all Pueblo council of governors;
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                                1  G.   bilingual multicultural education advisory
                                2    council;
                                3  H.   Black education advisory council;
                                4  I.   deputy secretary of special education of the
                                5    public education department;
                                6  J.   business committee of the Fort Sill Apache
                                7    Tribe;
                                8  K.   Hispanic education advisory council;
                                9  L.   Indian education advisory council;
                                10  M.   legislative council of the Jicarilla Apache
                                11   Nation;
                                12  N.   tribal council of the Mescalero Apache Tribe;
                                13  O.   Navajo Nation council;
                                14  P.   New Mexico coalition of educational leaders;
                                15  Q.   New Mexico school boards association;
                                16  R.   New Mexico school superintendents association;
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                                17  S.   president of the Albuquerque teachers
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                                18   federation;
                                19  T.   president of the American federation of
                                20   teachers; and
                                21  U.   president of the New Mexico parent teacher
                                22   association.
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