Welcome to the New Mexico Public Education Department Website

Martinez/Yazzie Discussion Draft and 2022 Strategic Plan

The Public Education Department is seeking public feedback on the Martinez/Yazzie Discussion Draft, a draft document summarizing the state’s ongoing and comprehensive plan to transform New Mexico’s education system in response to a court’s findings in the Martinez-Yazzie Consolidated Lawsuit. The public can comment in writing at draft.actionplan@state.nm.us through June 17. The final document will closely align with the 2022 Comprehensive Strategic Plan. The two documents will guide budgetary and programmatic decision-making with a single-minded focus on one goal: To assure that all students meet their full potential regardless of race, ethnicity, income or background.

New Mexico Wildfires

Our thoughts are with our fellow New Mexicans affected by fires burning around the state, and the PED continues to check in with our students, staff, superintendents, and school communities. Our sister agencies offer additional resources to check out as we continue into wildland fire season:

• New Mexico Environmental Public Health Tracking and 5-3-1 Visibility Guide
• New Mexico Fire Information
• New Mexico Environment Department

Supporting Teachers and Families

Step right up! New Mexico is experiencing a shortage of substitute teachers, and we need you to step up and support our schools by applying to be a substitute teacher. Our goal is to maintain as much in-person instruction as is safely possible, which we know is the best option for our students. We’ve launched Supporting Teachers and Families (STAF) to make sure the application and training process is smooth for potential substitutes and that schools and districts can have access to the support they need.

Learn more and apply here

Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression Hotline

Students, families, and community members can report school-based incidents of racial bias by calling the Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression Hotline, maintained by the Public Education Department in compliance with the Black Education Act, HB43. The hotline is open to anyone and can be used to report incidents of racism, injustice, or discrimination against anyone in a school setting. The phone number is staffed by a trained department employee from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; after-hours callers can leave a message.

To report an incident:
Call (833) 485-1335
Email ARAO.Hotline@state.nm.us
Fill out the online form at bit.ly/BEAhotline

PED Little Lending Library

The New Mexico Public Education Department’s new Little Lending Library is now open! Secretary Kurt Steinhaus christened the library in May, along with the library’s talented design and construction team made up of students from the Media Arts Collaborative Charter School in Albuquerque. The little lending library is located on the east side of the PED building at 300 Don Gaspar in Santa Fe. Take a look, grab a book, leave a book!

NM Student Connect

The New Mexico Public Education Department launched NM Student Connect to help students and teachers who currently lack high-speed broadband internet service or devices get access to the internet. The NM Student Connect Help Desk can help eligible students’ households sign up for the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. For info click here or call 1-888-723-4505.

For information about New Mexico’s COVID-19 Watchlist, please visit NMED here, where you can search by city or school name.