Pandemic presents opportunity to remake K-12 with needed student and family supports

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 100,000 lives across the country, with more than 500 of those deaths here in New Mexico. Communities of color are among the hardest hit by this pandemic, which has further exposed deep social inequities in our society. The pandemic, however, also presents a great deal of opportunity as we rebuild our society and shape our new normal. From ensuring access to clean water on the Navajo Nation, to access to health care for all residents without regard for immigration status, COVID-19 can be the impetus to make the type of systemic changes needed to build a more equitable society where every person has the opportunity to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

This is also true of our public education system. In this moment we‘re faced with the opportunity to reimagine a system that serves all children regardless of race, socioeconomic or immigration status. The current system has created a significant opportunity gap for students of color. We also know that the opportunity gap begins at an early age, with children of color being less likely to have access to quality early learning programs, which set the foundation for lifelong learning.

However, as we emerge from the current crisis, we can reimagine an equitable system informed by students, their families, and teachers. We’re grateful to the N.M. Public Education Department and Albuquerque Public Schools, which adapted quickly to ensure that children could continue their education with as many of the wrap-around services students need like access to food and technology. The city of Albuquerque responded in kind by for providing access to the internet through buses, libraries and other means.

But we must do more. In our work with families and their students, we’ve learned that although low-income families received a laptop to help students access online learning platforms, many of those families were unable to effectively use the laptops or navigate those platforms. Assuming that distance learning will be part of the new normal, NMPED and school districts across the state must invest in technical assistance supports. In APS many of our teachers had to pull double-duty as educators and technical assistance providers for students and their families — this is unsustainable and unfair to the student and to the teacher.

We must also think very seriously about how to continue to engage families in meaningful ways. NMPED and local districts should partner with reputable community-based organizations to help engage families in creative ways. For example, during the first 10 weeks of the pandemic PCA parent volunteers implemented 15 family engagement sessions via Facebook Live, engaging dozens of families from schools across APS at no cost to the school district. NMPED and APS must ensure family engagement continues to be a priority as we work to build effective, equitable distance learning models.

Long term, the state of New Mexico must comply fully with the Yazzie/Martínez decision and double down on its investments in targeted programs. The state must also address years of neglect in infrastructure funding across the state including broadband, prioritizing the most impoverished communities from Chaparral to Dulce and points in between. Finally, the state needs to fully fund early learning for all students. If we’ve learned one thing during this pandemic it’s our early childhood system is not only essential, it’s not properly funded.

In the midst of so much suffering we also face the type of transformative opportunity that seldom comes around. We can either wait for the world to go back to “normal,” or we can seize this moment and build an education system that serves all children, acknowledges and celebrates unique identity and nurtures an environment where all of our children can thrive.

In our communities, we are ready to seize this moment. We hope you can join us.