Three New Mexico schools were designated as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2019, which the state Public Education Department calls “one of the highest national honors for improving student outcomes and closing achievement gaps.”
Career Enrichment Center and Early College Academy in Albuquerque, Ladera Del Norte Elementary in Farmington, and Logan Elementary in Logan were given the honor.
This year, Career Enrichment Center and Early College Academy and Logan Elementary were honored in the “Exemplary High Performing Schools” category. And Ladera Elementary was in the “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools” category.
The schools are nominated by the PED and then they submit an application to the U.S. Department of Education.
TOOLKITS FOR PARENTS: Environment New Mexico Research and Policy Center has released a free informational toolkit for parents, teachers and administrators about lead in school drinking water.
The “Get the Lead Out” guide has facts on the health effects of lead in drinking water, fixes to address the problem and how to understand lead-level testing results.
It also links to additional online resources such as information from pediatricians and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The toolkit shows how parents can get involved at the school level. It can be found at https://environmentamerica.org.
NEW AUTISM PORTAL: The state has a new Autism Portal that has launched to streamline resources, offer trainings and provide information about autism spectrum disorder.
Available are trainings for teachers and webinars on such topics as social engagement for young students living with disabilities.
There’s also a section of the portal that locates resources and services for people with autism.
The portal was born from the collaboration between PED, the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability and the Developmental Disabilities Supports Division at the New Mexico Department of Health.
The portal can be found at https://cdd.health.unm.edu/autismportal/.
FED DOLLARS FOR COLLEGE: The state is looking to boost participation in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The PED is aiming for a statewide completion rate of 80%, according to a news release. Currently, about 65% of high school students in the state complete the FASFA.
So, state officials put a call out to high school students to fill out their FASFA saying thousands of students miss out on federal dollars that could go toward college.
Shelby Perea: sperea@abqjournal.com
