PED head asks Legislature for $5.5 billion in education funding next year

SANTA FE — The head of the New Mexico Public Education Department is asking state lawmakers for over $5.5 billion to fund the state’s K-12 schools and a host of initiatives, including programs to improve the graduation rate, bring down chronic absenteeism and fill teacher vacancies.

In a hearing room at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Thursday, Mariana Padilla, secretary designee of the department, outlined her agency’s multi-billion request to the Legislative Finance Committee, which is hearing budget requests from all agencies in the run-up to the legislative session in January. PED’s budget proposal is an increase from the $5.08 billion it asked for last year.

“The recommendation we’re presenting to you today really reflects a commitment to equity and excellence in education, addressing the needs of all students, especially those identified in the Martinez-Yazzie ruling,” Padilla told the committee. “This proposal seeks to continue making targeted investments that enhance instructional equality and seeks to improve student outcomes — exactly what you requested, Mr. Chair.”

The ruling she referred to involves New Mexico public school parents Wilhelmina Yazzie and Louise Martinez, who argued in 1st Judicial District Court several years ago that the state was not providing an equitable education for their children under the New Mexico Constitution. A judge ruled in their favor and asked PED to implement a plan, which it is still fighting in court.

Among the biggest legislative requests from PED is $79.5 million for programs to improve the graduation rate. These programs include career-connected learning; out-of-school time enrichment programs and high-impact tutoring; school improvement and transformation programs; and community schools.

Another large legislative request is $52.3 million to improve educator training and recruitment.

“Teachers remain the most important factor in student learning,” Padilla said. “However, the state still has far too many teacher vacancies.”

With enrollment in teacher residency programs going from 40 educators in 2022-23 to nearly 300 in 2023-24, Padilla said there is good reason to boost support for programs that help teachers.

“These educators are more likely to stay in communities, their community, upon graduating,” she said.

PED hopes to add $50 million to the Indian Education Fund, recurring expenditures to support Native American students. The request is less than the $90 million proposed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for the fund. That is just part of $150 million the governor’s plan proposes be funneled into a Native American education fund over the next three years.

Padilla told lawmakers that the proposal does not include compensation for public school employees because parts of the budget are still under review.

“But I will say we are closely aligned with other recommendations,” she said.

Under questioning from lawmakers following her presentation, Padilla told state Rep. Derrick J. Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, that she was not sure where the state ranked in terms of spending per student, but could get that figure to the Legislature.

Lente responded he wants to “dig in” to the figure more since the state has a “recurring theme” that its students “continue to score the lowest.”

“We’re going to dig ourselves out of that eventually, right?” Lente said. “I just wanted to see where we can get out of this funk, if you want to call it that.”