Education
Biden student debt relief plan revoked in U.S. House vote
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday voted to overturn the Biden administration’s one-time student debt relief plan that is currently on hold awaiting a Supreme Court decision expected within weeks. Before the 218-203 vote on the resolution, the White House said President Joe Biden would veto it, arguing that the U.S. Department of Education […]
CYFD head asks for public watchdogs: ‘Watch and see, and hold us accountable’
Officials from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department announced goals they want to meet in order to improve the state agency that’s regularly criticized, and asked the public to hold it accountable for meeting future targets. On Tuesday, CYFD launched a dashboard that displays internal and external work data about how well the […]
Pojoaque school board prepares for local election
The Board of Education for the Pojoaque Valley School District on May 10 made preparations for the local election happening this fall. Board members approved a resolution notifying the Santa Fe County Clerk there will be three positions on the board which will come up for election this year. New Mexico’s local election will be […]
Low fertility rates, high housing prices mean fewer children in most states
Thirty-five states have fewer children than they did five years ago, a situation caused by declining birth rates nationwide, but also by young families migrating across state borders in search of cheaper housing. Even in the 15 states that gained children, all but North Dakota experienced greater growth in the adult population, meaning children now […]
Free meals for K-12 students proposed in Congress
As the start of the next school year approaches, schools in New Mexico are preparing to hand out free meals to all students after the Legislature unanimously passed a bill that would ensure all students have access to food in school, joining four other states in making universal meals a permanent policy. About three-quarters of […]
UNM unions call on Board of Regents to raise salaries for workers in $4.07 billion budget
Unions representing University of New Mexico faculty members, graduate students, custodians and hospital workers gathered on campus Wednesday to call for better wages, a day before the university’s Board of Regents plan to finalize the school’s budget. Members aimed to raise their voices so university officials take their thoughts into account when finishing up the […]
Early childhood workers and parents advocate for better pay and affordable child care
As toddlers ran around a temporarily closed daycare center in Albuquerque, adults chanted “sí se puede, sí se puede” in a small, colorfully decorated room where workers normally watch over young children. In Las Cruces, tucked away in a mobile home on the East Mesa, a dozen workers and parents touted signs emblazoned with “New […]
How New Mexico’s early childhood agency fared in the most recent legislative session
New Mexico’s pre-kindergarten education and child care agency greatly benefited from the most recent legislative session, receiving hundreds of millions more in funding from state lawmakers than it initially requested. In the 2022 midterm elections before the recent 60-day legislative session, New Mexicans overwhelmingly voted to amend the state constitution to require the state to […]
Las Cruces Public School board starts breakneck superintendent search
The Las Cruces Board of Education is looking for a new superintendent to lead the district – and plans to name a candidate by July 1. That leaves less than two months for the search and naming a new leader, said school board President Teresa Tenorio in a phone interview. In recent press releases and […]
Deadline approaches for millions in state grants for out-of-school programs
Yajaira Lopez, a student at Portales Junior High School performs Baile Folkórico, a Mexican folk dance at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Jan. 18. 2023. The program is supported by the local school district with funding to support students outside of school. (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM)
School days extended in Las Cruces
Las Cruces Public Schools will extend the school day by 10 minutes each day, just one of many districts needing to lengthen their academic year in response to a law passed during the 2023 legislative session. Other districts are choosing to extend the school’s academic calendar rather than adjust the school day. Albuquerque Public Schools […]
The NDN Girls Book Club is igniting a spark for Native American literature
Kinsale Drake started teaching writing and literary workshops to children when she was seventeen. She’d help with anything, from teaching poetry to editing portfolios and submissions students sent to fellowships or literary journals. Drake’s newest endeavor, The NDN Girls Book Club, is not just a bookclub and it’s not just for Native American girls. The […]