Committee approves memorial to study teacher workloads after survey finds heavy paperwork and strain

The House Education Committee on Tuesday approved House Memorial 47, which asks the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) to study teacher workloads and the non‑instructional demands placed on educators.

Sponsor remarks and testimony described rising workload, paperwork and assessment burdens that many teachers say have eroded work‑life balance and contributed to staffing shortages. Ellen Bernstein, president of an Albuquerque teachers group, summarized an APS district survey she said showed nearly half of employees reporting unmanaged workloads and more than 40% rating their work‑life balance as fair to poor.

The memorial directs a comprehensive interim review of teacher duties, paperwork, assessment burden and potential state supports such as counseling services, substitute coverage and training that could reduce prescriptive administrative tasks. Committee members emphasized the memorial will catalog both challenges and effective local practices to inform future legislation.

The committee granted a due‑pass recommendation on HM47 and directed LESC to include the issue on its interim work plan.