2010-06

Requesting Federal, State and Local Governments to Adopt Education Reforms Aimed at Improving the United States Standing in Global Test Scores, Graduation Rates and Overall Education

Sponsored By: Representative Nora Espinoza (NM)

Short Title: STEM Education Reform

WHEREAS, the future success of the United States of America depends on a highly educated and motivated workforce; and

WHEREAS, math and science are the foundation for research and development and provide the necessary tools for future innovation; and

WHEREAS, future generations must acquire superior math and science skills in order to compete in the global job market; and

WHEREAS, the National Science Foundation is estimating that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require math and science skills; and

WHEREAS, the United States was a global leader in math and science but has now dropped to a rank of 35th in Math and 29th in Science; and

WHEREAS, it is crucial to institute education reform in every state to keep up with the high level of engineering and science students output by foreign countries; and

WHEREAS, the United States graduation rate is estimated at 70%; and

WHEREAS, the national rate for high school graduation of Hispanics in the United States is at 58.4%, the lowest amongst all ethnic groups; and

WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, only 12% of Hispanics in the United States have 4 or more years of college, a number significantly lower than other ethnic groups.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators calls on the Congress, the states and local governments to fully embrace education reform that is meaningful and that will put the United States back on top of all education rankings and close the gap between ethnic groups; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be directed to the United States Congress, the President, the Secretary of the US Department of Education, Arne Duncan, and to all members of NALEO through that organization’s national communications network.

Sponsored By: Representative Nora Espinoza (NM)

THIS RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BY NHCSL AND RATIFIED AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS NOVEMBER 13TH, 2010.