New Mexico Colleges Take a $102 Million Blow as Federal Research Stalls, With Tribal Schools Bracing for Deeper Cuts
New Mexico’s public colleges face about $102 million in losses from canceled or paused federal research. New Mexico Tech, New Mexico State, and New Mexico Highlands University carry the largest gaps as the state weighs fixes for 2026 and has far more campus repair requests than money on hand. Tribal colleges also face a proposed 88 percent cut to Bureau of Indian Education postsecondary funding and a long record of underfunding, with leaders warning some campuses could close if Congress approves the plan.
New Mexico Overhauls Graduation Rules for the Class of 2029
New Mexico has approved its first major update to high school graduation rules since 2009, set to take effect with the Class of 2029. Students will still need 24 credits, but Algebra II will no longer be mandatory, allowing more flexible math pathways. House Bill 171 also gives districts control over two elective credits to match local needs, while keeping core requirements in science and social studies, including personal financial literacy. Supporters say the changes will make learning more relevant and help prepare students for life after graduation.
University of New Mexico Moves to Tighten Campus Security After Dorm Shooting
The University of New Mexico has pledged a sweeping overhaul of its campus safety policies after the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in a residence hall last month. Speaking to students, staff, and the media during an August 1 briefing, university leaders detailed both immediate and long-term changes aimed at closing security gaps and […]
University of New Mexico Launches Groundbreaking Bilingual Program for Early Childhood Communication Needs
The University of New Mexico’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences has launched Project MESA—a first-of-its-kind program in the state aimed at training bilingual, culturally responsive speech-language pathologists to serve young children with special needs. Funded through a five-year federal grant, Project MESA—short for Multilingual, culturally responsive, Early childhood Social communication Approaches—prepares graduate students to […]
Danielle Gonzales Honored with National CHCI Award for Service to Latino Communities
Albuquerque Public Schools is celebrating one of its own. Board President Danielle Gonzales has been named as one of the recipients of the Medallion of Excellence for a Distinguished Alumnus by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a prestigious honor reserved for alumni who have made a lasting impact through service and leadership. The award is presented […]
Lawsuits Free $12 Billion in Federal Funds for New Mexico Schools and Services
The New Mexico Department of Justice has reclaimed roughly $12 billion in federal funding, restoring critical support for schools, health care programs, and infrastructure projects across the state. The breakthrough came after judges in several multi-state lawsuits granted temporary relief from a freeze imposed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Since January, the […]
New Mexico’s Rural Districts Step In to Run Statewide Online School, Promising Broader Access and Accountability
Two rural New Mexico school districts — Chama Valley Independent Schools in Rio Arriba County and Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools in Guadalupe County — will assume operational control of the Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico, a statewide online public school powered by Stride, Inc., beginning in fall 2025. The academy, which first opened in […]
NM PED Invites Public Input on Court‑Ordered Yazzie/Martinez Remedial Action Plan
The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) will host a series of 12 community meetings throughout August, seeking public feedback to guide the state’s remedial action plan required by the Yazzie/Martinez court ruling. The meetings respond directly to an April decision by First Judicial District Court Judge Matthew Wilson, who concluded New Mexico has not […]
NMSU Leads Statewide Push to Train Workforce for Nation’s Nuclear Security Mission
New Mexico State University (NMSU) is playing a leading role in a growing statewide effort to prepare a new generation of workers for one of the country’s most vital security missions: the safe handling and production of plutonium components used in nuclear deterrence. On July 21, 2025, NMSU outlined its contributions to the Plutonium Workforce […]
Non-profit Groups Memo Urges States to Act on Special Education Crisis
In July 2025, Bellwether Education Partners issued a wide‑ranging memo on behalf of nearly eight million students with disabilities, warning that the first half of the Trump administration had introduced a cascade of policy shifts that imperil access to special education services. Bellwether reports that in 2022–23, more than 15 percent of public school students […]
