Welcome to the New Mexico Public Education Department Website

Federal Funding Dashboard

Curious about how districts and charter schools are spending federal COVID-19 relief funding? The ESSER 1 (CARES ACT) Funding Report interactive dashboard shows how districts and state charter schools are spending their portions of the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund). Nearly $13.2 billion was provided to states to support the nation’s schools in safely reopening and sustaining safe operations of schools while meeting the academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs of students resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Year of Literacy

The Public Education Department has declared the 2021-2022 school year to be the Year of Literacy across New Mexico. Dr. Kurt Steinhaus, who takes over as Public Education secretary-designate on Aug. 20, proposed the Year of Literacy as a way to engage all New Mexicans in the single skill that is most essential to unlocking education. The Year of Literacy will include participatory events, beginning with a #GetCaughtReading campaign. To participate:

• Families: Take a picture of your child reading independently or with other family members and send it, along with a caption, to family.engagement@state.nm.us.
• Teachers: Take a picture of how you are promoting reading in your classroom and send it, along with a caption, to teacher.liaison@state.nm.us.
• Superintendents and School Leaders: Take a picture of how your district staff is promoting reading throughout your offices and schools, and send it, along with a caption, to judy.robinson@state.nm.us.
• Businesses: Take a picture of how your business is promoting reading or access to quality books and materials and send it, along with a caption, to community.engagement@state.nm.us.

See Dr. Steinhaus’ back-to-school video here.

Martinez and Yazzie Consolidated Lawsuit Response Updates

The New Mexico Public Education Department has defined strategies, established timelines, and begun the work of ensuring that all students in New Mexico are engaged in a culturally and linguistically responsive education system that meets their social, emotional, and academic needs. We have much more to do, and to that end, the PED’s Identity, Equity, and Transformation team will soon share updates on how the PED is addressing those needs. To learn more about where we’ve been, where we are now, and what we’re working on for the future, the Martinez and Yazzie Consolidated Lawsuit page is packed with resources and information. We will continue to provide updates on this page as these efforts continue.

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