Safe & Healthy Schools

PUBLIC COMMENT NOTICE

The NM Public Education Department (PED) is providing notice to the public and to school districts and charter schools that the PED is considering submittal of a waiver request to the US Department of Education for the following requirements as a result of the upcoming expiration of funds related to the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19):

Carryover limitation in section 1127(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 Title I, Part A funds (i.e., the Title I, Part A funds that will become carryover funds on October 1, 2024): to waive the requirement that limits an SEA’s ability to grant to its LEAs a waiver of the 15 percent Title I, Part A carryover limitation in section 1127(a) to once every three years.
Period of availability of funds in section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA): to extend the period of availability of FY 2022 funds for programs in which the SEA participates under its approved consolidated State plan until September 30, 2025. The programs are:
- The portions of the SEA’s Title I, Part A award used to carry out section 1003 school improvement, section 1003A direct student services.
- Title I, Part C of the ESEA (Education of Migratory Children)
- Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 of the ESEA (Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk)
- Title II, Part A of the ESEA (Supporting Effective Instruction)
- Title III, Part A of the ESEA (English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement)
- Title V, Part B, Subpart 2 of the ESEA (Rural and Low-Income School Program)
- McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program
- USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
- USDA Equipment Assistance

Please submit your comments and questions regarding the waiver request to the form linked below:

Comments and Questions Form

7 Mindsets, the leader in online social emotional learning (SEL)solutions, and New Mexico’s Public Education Department have partnered to make frees SEL resources available through a new online state portal. Beginning September14, 2021 the portal will give students, parents, and educators no-cost access to 7 Mindset’s SEL courses and curriculums, leadership training, and teacher professional development.

For access to the portal go to: http://www.newmexicoselportal.com/

The New Mexico Out-of-School Time Network (NMOST) has compiled a list of known meal sites taking place in school districts throughout the state of New Mexico during the statewide public school closures. For school districts where days, times, and locations of meal sites are unknown, we have attached hyperlinks that will take you to a page with the contact information for that school district’s Food Service/Nutrition Service Contact Director whom you can direct your questions to. Click here for a list of sites.

Vision

Healthier kids make better students.
Better students make healthier communities.

Mission

The Safe and Healthy Schools Bureau believe that ALL students can become successful and responsible individuals who value and choose an active and healthy lifestyle.

Through leadership and teamwork, the Bureau advocates and provides support for schools and families to implement school health programs, and health and nutrition services. Through intra/inter and community agency collaboration, the Bureau works to promote healthier schools by providing professional development, technical assistance and resources to local education agencies. Schools are able to develop, implement and evaluate school health programs and activities, designed to improve instruction and increase student learning. Health-promoting schools become high-achieving schools, which is based on the philosophy that “healthy kids make better students and better students make healthier communities”.

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model: A New Approach

By focusing on youth, addressing critical education and health outcomes, organizing collaborative actions and initiatives that support students, and strongly engaging community resources, the WSCC approach offers important opportunities that may improve healthy development and educational attainment for students. Learn more about this approach in a special issue of the Journal of School Health, and at the Center for Disease Control website..

CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health

CDC has developed updated guidance to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in communities which includes recommendations for households, schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings.

Schools, working together with local health departments, have an important role in slowing the spread of diseases to help ensure students have safe and healthy learning environments. CDC has developed Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Schools should continue to collaborate, share information, and review plans with local health officials to help protect the whole school community, including those with special health needs.

Everyone has a role to play in getting ready and staying healthy. Please consider sharing this information through your communication channels. I also encourage you to return to these webpages often as they will continue to be updated.

Did you know… you can now print your child’s shot record