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The 2023 Legislative Session is in full swing! Last month, we released our 2023 policy priorities, which reflect the urgency of this moment and our collective belief in the potential of our students. Here’s an update on what’s happened so far at the roundhouse as it relates to our policy priorities.
ENSURE NEW MEXICO STUDENTS RECEIVE RESEARCH-BASED INSTRUCTION IN EARLY LITERACY
Have you signed our literacy petition? Let’s send a message to our legislators that every New Mexico child deserves research-based instruction in early literacy! Sign the petition here.
Be sure to listen to the most recent episode of our New Mexico Rising Podcast to hear from Bella Chandler, a kindergarten teacher at SY Jackson Elementary. Our conversation illuminates the importance of structured literacy and how it can make an impact for our students.
SENATE BILL 24: SCHOOL REPORTING ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS
Our legislation, sponsored by Senator Diamond, will create reporting requirements for school districts and ensure ESSER funds are monitored, well-spent, and aligned toward improving student outcomes. All school community members deserve to know how districts spend these critical and time-limited federal dollars. Senate Bill 24 moved out of its first committee last Friday and will now move to the Senate Finance Committee.
HOUSE BILL 126: SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
In a house committee on Monday, we spoke in opposition of House Bill 126, which changes graduation requirements for students entering 9th grade in the 2024-2025 school year. We cannot support this bill as it removes Algebra II, and two semesters of a foreign language as graduation requirements.
Removing these courses from the requirements will put students at risk of not being accepted into our state’s flagship university, the University of New Mexico, which currently requires both. Additionally, since the courses are no longer required, districts may stop offering them to all students, preventing college-bound students from having access to the courses they need to reach their dreams.
The bill passed out of committee on a 8-2 vote and now moves on to the House Education Committee. You can learn more about HB126 by reading this article from NM Education.
We anticipate having quite a few more updates and opportunities for you to act in support of our policies in the coming days. Please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram for all the latest updates.
We stand ready to advocate for New Mexico students and families during this legislative session! As always, we’ll keep you updated as the session progresses.