Let’s get started on improving education

Two events in recent weeks can be seen as important signposts in New Mexico’s education debate.

First, the Legislative Education Study Committee field hearing was notable for the wide agreement among expert panelists and the New Mexico Public Education Department about what needs to be done to transform our education system to better serve all students and improve outcomes.

And second, the legal notice filed by plaintiffs in the landmark education lawsuit Yazzie/Martinez makes clear there is much more to be done before our state education system can be deemed “constitutionally sufficient.”

The onus is on the Legislature to act. Extraordinary state budget surpluses from oil and gas revenue make this the right moment for the Legislature to set a new course and invest boldly in solutions tailored to the diverse assets of our students.

The Legislative Education Study Committee heard a unified message from superintendents, academics and dual-language experts about the need to adopt a multicultural and multilingual approach to education in New Mexico. Four points stood out as the most promising, evidencebased strategies to ensure our students and teachers will succeed.

Three-quarters of New Mexico students are Hispanic or Native American and over one-third speak a language other than English at home. Investing in our teachers with adequate pay and professional development opportunities is critical. We need to support educators to provide more culturally and linguistically responsive education. That means more bilingual teachers and teachers trained to teach speakers of other languages. And it means providing culturally and linguistically appropriate materials for the classroom. Multilingual classrooms have the dual benefit of meeting English-language learners’ needs, while simultaneously offering all students the opportunity to develop bilingual skills that can only help them in the 21st-century job market.

Universal Pre-K: There is a direct link between early education and the long-term academic success and well-being of students. High-quality early education and care for all 3- and 4-yearolds in New Mexico is a must for ensuring kids are ready to learn when they begin kindergarten. State-funding is needed to reduce the financial burden on families in need, to better integrate public and private services, and to ensure economically disadvantaged kids begin school on equal footing with their peers.

Extended learning: In his testimony, Tim Hand, deputy secretary of policy, strategy and accountability, pointed to the fact that by sixth grade, there is a 6,000-hour gap in educational opportunity between economically advantaged and disadvantaged students. We must provide extended learning opportunities to all children who need them and ensure districts have the resources and flexibility to provide summer and after-school programs. Key factors include community input to tailor options to specific needs as well as providing the basics, like enough school buses so all students have the opportunity to participate.

Social services: Educational success cannot be separated from the physical and social development of children. We must ensure social services, counseling and health care are available to all students who need them. This need is especially acute in rural communities and small districts where school staff wear many hats.

It is heartening to see the level of agreement about what works to support the education and overall well-being of children and to ensure they are ready for college and career. This is not the moment for complacency. The governor has called for a “moonshot” in education. The experts know what works and the Legislature has the resources to make transformative investments. Let’s get started.