State education officials are seeking a $5.9 billion public school budget as New Mexico tries to build on gains in reading while tackling persistent problems in maths and attendance.
Public Education Department Secretary Mariana Padilla said the additional funding, a 2.9 percent increase over last year’s budget. would help schools maintain recent progress and give teachers more support.
Where the money would go
The major spending in the proposed budget includes $16.6 million for literacy coaches, $15.5 million for expanded reading support, $29 million for reading and maths interventions, $35 million for career and technical education, $10 million for summer internships, $60 million over three years for after-school programmes, and $30 million for Indian education.
The request also includes additional spending for bilingual, Hispanic and Black education programs, and initiatives to improve the state’s lowest-performing schools, Padilla said.
The education official told the Legislative Finance and Education Study committees on Thursday the proposal would help schools build on previous gains while supporting teachers.
Reading gains, but maths remains stuck
Reading proficiency, which has been one of the brighter spots, rose by more than 10 percentage points among grades 3 through 8 students, with Native American and low-income students recording some of the largest gains. But Math remains a laggard, with statewide performance has shown little movement, reflecting a problem seen in many states where schools continue to deal with the academic fallout from the pandemic.
Attendance is another major concern as chronic absenteeism remains high. Part of the spending proposal is for programs to get students back in classrooms.
The proposed $5.9 billion covers the state’s main public education funding proposal. It will go through the legislative process, where lawmakers will weigh it against other demands on the state’s budget.
Rep. Derrick Lente, a Democrat from Sandia Pueblo, praised the proposed increase for tribal education. “We are not fighting over crumbs anymore,” Lente said. “We are seeing real results.”
