Here's what federal funding cuts could come to NM K-12 education

SANTA FE — Members of the state’s Legislative Education Study Committee, one of the primary educational policymaking bodies in New Mexico, were briefed Thursday on what federal funding streams are expected to dry up.

An estimated $600 million in federal dollars could make its way into the state this year, according to a presentation given to LESC members, despite uncertainty surrounding federal funding sources following President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the Department of Education via executive order in March.

What federal funding remains, is axed or consolidated will be determined after Congress approves its budget, according to LESC Analyst Daniel Estupiñan.

The funding stream believed to be most at risk is Title III funding for English language learners.

“This is the one program I think we could generally say is the most at risk in a potential revision of funding,” Estupiñan told policymakers.

Other federal funding streams with uncertain futures include Title IV-A, used for improving technology, Title V-B which goes to rural schools and tribal schools and funding for students with disabilities called Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds.

“A lot of the concern that I’m seeing from our national partners in the national conversation is about the potential that all of the IDEA programs are consolidated into one pot of money, and that money is pushed out by the federal government in a way that bypasses the rules and protections established through IDEA,” Estupiñan said.

Among the funds already lost are $5 million for a “Teacher Quality” residency program that sponsored 68 people in coaching and mentoring, and another $5 million spent on 18 positions — listed as “at risk” — for a behavioral health program offered at schools in Silver City.

The same portion of the report also lists $12.3 million in ESSER or pandemic relief funds as lost. However, earlier this month a New York federal judge ruled that the Department of Education must allow a temporary extension of these funds, siding with 16 states, one of which was New Mexico, who sued the Trump administration over the halting of these funds.

While uncertainty looms on federal cuts, the passing of House Bill 63 — which changes the funding formula for the state equalization guarantee — from the past legislative session will help mitigate those impacts, according to Estupiñan. He added that an additional $125 million will flow to the state’s public schools as a result of this bill, and some of that money can be used to “backfill” holes that may arise from federal funding cuts.

“I think we made some pretty good, strong statutory moves that could strengthen our ability as a state to respond to some of these federal changes or the funding or changes in statute or rule,” Estupiñan said. “There’s obviously more work to do, but I think we’re ahead of a lot of others.”