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HOUSE MEMORIAL 47
57
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Tanya Mirabal Moya and Brian G. Baca
A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY
PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
WHEREAS, fewer than one in four students in New Mexico are
proficient in reading and mathematics, according to the 2024
national assessment of educational progress, which ranked New
Mexico as the lowest in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Martinez/Yazzie v. State of New Mexico
successfully challenged the constitutional sufficiency of New
Mexico's public school system, with the court finding that:
A. a large proportion of New Mexico's students in
kindergarten through twelfth grade are "at-risk", meaning they
live in poverty, have disabilities, are English language
learners or are part of historically marginalized Native
American communities;
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B. New Mexico has an achievement gap between
students who are at-risk and students who are not at-risk,
meaning that students who are at-risk perform lower on reading
and mathematics assessments, are less likely to graduate from
high school on time or attend and complete college and have
lower future earning capacities; and
C. New Mexico has a critical need for highly
effective teachers to serve students who are at-risk to close
the achievement gap; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico continues to have a high number of
teacher vacancies and an increasing turnover rate for teachers;
and
WHEREAS, more teacher candidates are pursuing alternative
pathways to licensing and have little to no classroom
experience prior to becoming teachers; and
WHEREAS, research shows that teachers are the most
important school-related factor that influences student
outcomes; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico also has an increasing turnover rate
for school administrators; and
WHEREAS, research shows that school administrators are the
second most important school-related factor that influences
student outcomes; and
WHEREAS, the success of public schools depends on the hard
work and dedication of all school employees, including
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educational assistants, instructional support providers, bus
drivers, food service providers, custodians, security personnel
and many others; and
WHEREAS, school districts and charter schools report
difficulty staffing all positions necessary for a school to
function and concerns about salary compaction for school
employees, particularly among teachers and school
administrators; and
WHEREAS, health insurance premiums for New Mexico school
employees continue to increase and reduce the impact of recent
salary increases approved by the legislature; and
WHEREAS, despite recent salary increases, a study by the
Massachusetts institute of technology found that many school
employees in New Mexico earn salaries below a living wage; and
WHEREAS, fair and competitive compensation is key to
improving school employee recruitment and retention,
particularly for highly effective teachers and school
administrators;
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 compensation
for public school employees, including how salary
competitiveness, compaction and sustainability affect
recruitment and retention; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education
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study committee be requested to collaborate with the public
education department, educator preparation programs, the
legislative finance committee, school districts and charter
schools, teachers' unions and teachers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education
study committee be requested to make public a report on the
findings, conclusions and recommendations from the study and
submit the report to the governor and the legislature by
December 31, 2025; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the legislative education study committee, the
legislative finance committee and the public education
department.
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