New Mexico continues its efforts to follow a judge’s orders to improve public education after the landmark Yazzie-Martinez court ruling, which found that the state violated some students’ constitutional rights by not providing them with an adequate education.It cited Native American students, students who study English as a second language, students with disabilities and children from low-income families as not getting the education they are entitled to by law.Mescalero High School told KOAT it is seeing a boost in success under increased state funding.In 2021, the state’s Public Education Department launched “Innovation Zone” funding. Mescalero High School was one of the grant recipients and has since used the funding to introduce career and technical education classes, including video production, culinary arts, agriculture, welding and art courses. Principal Rozalina Baeza told KOAT that her students have been able to incorporate their Indigenous identities in the curriculum. “When you incorporate language and culture of the students, no matter where you may be, the students are more interested,” Baeza said. “It gives them an opportunity to identify with who they are as young students, and it matters. What they’re doing matters to them.”Earlier this month, the Public Education Department announced that it had hired two independent groups to create a plan to comply with the court’s requirements for “underserved” students. The state is expected to deliver this plan by November.
New Mexico continues its efforts to follow a judge’s orders to improve public education after the landmark Yazzie-Martinez court ruling, which found that the state violated some students’ constitutional rights by not providing them with an adequate education.
It cited Native American students, students who study English as a second language, students with disabilities and children from low-income families as not getting the education they are entitled to by law.
Mescalero High School told KOAT it is seeing a boost in success under increased state funding.
In 2021, the state’s Public Education Department launched “Innovation Zone” funding.
Mescalero High School was one of the grant recipients and has since used the funding to introduce career and technical education classes, including video production, culinary arts, agriculture, welding and art courses.
Principal Rozalina Baeza told KOAT that her students have been able to incorporate their Indigenous identities in the curriculum.
“When you incorporate language and culture of the students, no matter where you may be, the students are more interested,” Baeza said. “It gives them an opportunity to identify with who they are as young students, and it matters. What they’re doing matters to them.”
Earlier this month, the Public Education Department announced that it had hired two independent groups to create a plan to comply with the court’s requirements for “underserved” students. The state is expected to deliver this plan by November.
