PED has asked lawmakers for nearly $5.1 billion next fiscal year, almost 21% more than last year

The New Mexico Public Education Department is asking the Legislature for more than $5.08 billion from the state’s general fund, according to a budget request submitted to the Legislative Finance Committee last week, a close to 21% increase from what public schools got last fiscal year.

The request comes amid a windfall of state revenue, driven largely by oil and natural gas production, that has left the state’s permanent funds flush with cash. In an emailed response to questions, the department said the budget “is based on what is best to meet the needs of educators and students in the state.”

In a letter sent to school district leaders dated Nov. 16, Education Secretary Arsenio Romero said this year’s proposed budget would be focused on accountability, citing a high number of low-performing schools and, though some progress has been made, “persistent low student achievement results.”

“It will require that all districts, schools, and classrooms in New Mexico be held responsible for the academic achievement and growth of their students,” Romero said of the proposed budget. “In this model, we will enforce accountability at the district level to ensure that those that do not provide their students with an effective education implement programs and policies that are proven to produce positive results.”

About 68% of the requested increase would come from nonrecurring appropriations requests, including $30 million for a literacy institute, an initiative backed by the governor, and almost $24 million for data collection and analysis — another component of district accountability.

The department said its proposed budget also looks larger in part because funding for universal school meals, which was approved earlier this year, wasn’t a part of the fiscal year 2024 budget, but would be a part of the department’s budget for the coming fiscal year.

Appropriations for universally free school meals are among the largest in the budget. The department has asked for more than $58 million collectively to cover this and next school year. Earlier this year, the Legislature set aside almost $22.6 million for the program and its employees, with an additional $20 million to build and improve school kitchens.

To the end of enforcing accountability from school districts, $32 million in the proposed budget would be appropriated to “school turnaround,” which would be used to implement requirements and provide support for low-performing schools to improve student outcomes.

Another $20 million would be set aside for “school improvement and transformation,” which partly would be focused on such things as professional development and technical assistance for employees to improve student outcomes and more oversight for school improvement grants.

Also among the largest single appropriations is a more than $126 million ask for 4% salary increases for all public school employees. During the most recent legislative session, lawmakers approved 6% raises for all employees.

Last fiscal year, the PED asked for about $4.3 billion from the state’s general fund and received the vast majority of it, ultimately getting more than $4.2 billion.