Education
New Mexico PBS to broadcast educational materials to 100 students’ computers
Five New Mexico school districts will take part in a pilot program testing a technology that transmits school work to students’ homes via their television. Transmitters the size of a playing card deck will be sent to 100 families in the districts chosen to test the program. The transmitters will pick up education materials and […]
‘It’s your gun. It’s your responsibility.’
Experts and community members gathered to talk solutions to gun violence in schools and community safety in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque. In August, 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was fatally shot by a fellow 8th-grade student at Downtown Albuquerque’s Washington Middle School. Newly appointed Rep. Pamelya Herndon said if the parent of the shooter had kept […]
Educator association calls for better pay and more planning time
Pay teachers and their support staff. That’s at the top of the legislative priorities for the National Education Association of New Mexico, a coalition that surveyed thousands of teachers in the state. Wages, health care, better time planning instruction, support for community schools, attention to class size and early childhood education are the six pillars […]
Indigenous educators ask lawmakers to support culturally sustaining programs
Buzzwords surrounding education reform in New Mexico can have different meanings. Culturally relevant education is a term that will mean something different for each community. Tracey Cordero, the director at the Keres Children’s Learning Center in Cochiti Pueblo, has a direct answer that could fit within many different places. “It is nothing more than telling […]
Former superintendent files discrimination lawsuit against Four Corners school district
Dave Goldtooth says he was shocked when he received the call to lead the Central Consolidated School District. It was a dream job, and despite his initial hesitation, Goldtooth (Diné) accepted the offer to serve as the interim superintendent for the Four Corners district with more than 6,000 students, 90% of whom are Native American. […]
FBI to investigate threats made against school board members, teachers
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice has directed the FBI to meet with local governments and law enforcement to discuss strategies for dealing with increasing threats to teachers and school board members spurred by a conservative backlash against discussions of race in public schools. “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter […]
New Mexicans get to weigh in on how social studies is taught in public schools
The state Public Education Department released new standards for social studies that were prepared by by educators from across New Mexico. People can read the proposal here. “This is the first full review of our social studies standards in 20 years, so it is beyond time for this update,” Public Education Secretary Designate Kurt Steinhaus […]
After remote schooling, students and educators seek social smarts
In more than 20 years working with some of the most at-risk students in New Mexico, Leslie Kelly always looked for ways to meet kids wherever their heads might be on any given day. One day, that included an arm-wrestling competition with her middle school class. “Some of the boys were bigger than me,” Kelly […]
Huge dip in school COVID cases draws cautious optimism
It might be a bright spot for New Mexico public schools fighting COVID-19. It might be an anomaly. Either way, Public Education Secretary-designate Kurt Steinhaus is cautiously optimistic at the 37% dip in on-campus infections. “When I looked at that, the first time I thought, hmm, we better double check the data and make sure […]
Pandemic highlights longtime tech-integration failures for public schools
COVID-19 has reasserted that our schools are completely ill-prepared to equitably use technology in the classroom. During my time attending school board meetings — and even in my time in public school — I saw quite a few questionable tech purchases, from lackluster web filters to funding an allegedly fraudulent learning software from the now-infamous […]
Website shows amount NM schools received from feds — and what districts spent
Want to see if New Mexico schools are spending the federal pandemic relief money? There’s a website for you. Check it. New Mexico’s Public Education Department launched a site that gives people a view into school district spending of CARES Act money for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER). The site now details specific […]
Universal pre-K, free community college included in sweeping reconciliation bill
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House Education & Labor Committee on Friday finished a marathon markup of legislation that would provide universal pre-K education, expand federal Pell Grants for college students and institute two years of free community college. The $761 billion measure, approved on a party-line 28-22 vote, will be combined with other pieces of Democrats’ giant […]