House Concurrent Resolution 2

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE 2003 POLICY REPORT OF THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS.

WHEREAS, the 2003 Policy Report of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators addresses two goals: to foster a shared level of understanding among Hispanic legislators nationwide about the symptoms, root causes, and ameliorative change strategies concerning Hispanic educational achievement and attainment; and to articulate and create state legislative strategies that might be implemented in piece or in whole across the country; and

WHEREAS, the overall problem of Hispanic educational achievement is conceptualized as comprising many performance gaps, many levels of positive and negative explanatory factors, and as inseparable from the larger drama of social, political and demographic changes occurring in the Latino community; and

WHEREAS, the strengths of Hispanic culture and family life are seen as major assets in improving the educational performance of children and youth; and

WHEREAS, key benchmarks were reviewed in the following areas: dropout rates; high school achievement in terms of grades and test scores; college attendance rates; college completion rates; college achievement; matriculation to professional and graduate schools; and participation in high skill/high wage jobs and careers; and

WHEREAS, contributing factors to these outcomes, as well as potential program and policy solutions, were discussed in the following areas: preschool education; time devoted to learning; maximizing intellectual rigor; better trained teachers; learning resources, programs and technology; social organization of schools; academic choices and transitions; enabling Hispanic parents; and

WHEREAS, the report also discusses how the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) as an organization can address these issues, as well as individual NHCSL members in their own states:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby endorse the 2003 Policy Report of National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and encourage the State Department of Education to adopt these principles.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the State Department of Education and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.