NM education officials in Los Alamos to discuss public school reform, statewide plan still missing

Top New Mexico education leaders are expected to speak to a collection of lawmakers this week at the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater. (Photo by Anna Padilla for Source New Mexico)

Lawmakers will continue to learn what is and isn’t working in the long uphill climb to reform New Mexico’s public education.

On the agenda today for the Legislative Education Study Committee meetings in Los Alamos will be what’s billed as a “Roadmap” update on the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit that mandates reform for the state’s public schools.

Starting at 9 a.m., top education leaders are expected to speak to the collection of lawmakers at the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater.

The meeting is open to the public and will include testimony on the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit from education study committee leaders, Public Education Secretary Arsenio Romero and the top analyst on the issue from the Legislative Finance Committee, Sunny Liu.

Last week, Liu reported to state lawmakers on the finance committee that exponential investments in public education statewide is still not creating better outcomes for New Mexico students that are the heart of the Yazzie-Martinez reform.

Liu noted that overall funding has increased by 58% to $4.4 billion in Fiscal Year 2025. However, his report highlighted implementation of funds for at-risk student programs. The overall funding doubled, but spending on those services decreased to 23% in FY23 from 75.4% in FY20.

At-risk New Mexico public education students are identified as English Language Learners, Native American students, those who are economically disadvantaged and students with disabilities.

How to watch the New Mexico Legislative Education Study Committee

When: 9 a.m.

In person: Los Alamos High School Speech Theater

1300 Diamond Dr. Los Alamos, NM 87544

Online: nmlegis.gov

Services for at-risk students that Liu’s report emphasized on July 16 include areas that need more spending on programs to hire, “high quality teachers, appropriate curricula, and extended learning time programs,” the report reads.

Not connecting students to these programs can cause issues with test scores, graduation rates and college preparedness.

One requirement from the Yazzie-Martinez ruling that was noticeably absent from the conversation after Liu’s presentation last week to the Legislative Finance Committee, was the creation of a statewide plan by the New Mexico Public Education Department.

PED is tasked with developing an outline for how and when it will comply with the court’s order. The department released a discussion draft action plan in May 2022, asking for comment. But a final document has yet to be released to the public.

“ PED said the report would be finalized and released later that year, but that never happened,” said Melissa Candelaria, education director for the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, which represents Yazzie-Martinez plaintiffs.

When asked about the plan, a PED spokesperson declined to comment directly.

“ The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED), in collaboration with other Cabinet-level agencies, is effectively implementing targeted strategies and supports that address the findings of the consolidated Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit,” the department said in a statement.

Romero is slated to speak today in Los Alamos at the end of a presentation beginning at 10:15 a.m. It is not clear from the agenda that he will bring forth a statewide action plan to the committee.

NM high schoolers excel in Career Technical Education

A report on the status of New Mexico’s Career Technical Education initiatives, which proved to lead to better graduation rates for at-risk students, will start off the Los Alamos meeting.

On Wednesday, members of the Legislative Education Study Committee heard from local district leaders from across the state, including Alamogordo and Los Alamos.

A representative from the New Mexico Developmental Disability Council and the top counsel for the PED’s Office of Special Education, also presented on what they are doing in regards to creating safer spaces for students.

Other state policy analysts provided updates on Wednesday. The Legislative Education Study Committee meeting ends Thursday with presentations on Family Income Index programs and new rules at the public education department around school calendars.

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