Key Takeaways
- During the 2023, Legislative Session, a new Bill was passed that increased the number of hours students needed to be in school from approximately 1000 hours to 1,140 hours.
- NMPED Secretary is announcing that more changes are now coming to district calendars through rule making.
Recently, NM Public Education Secretary Romero wrote, “… Students statewide have low reading and math proficiencies. This is unacceptable. It is time for accountability: for the Public Education Department, for the school districts (including their boards and schools), charter schools, teachers' unions and families..."
During the 2023, Legislative Session, a new Bill was passed that increased the number of hours students needed to be in school from approximately 1000 hours to 1,140 hours. After discussion, debate, and compromise, by the education community HB 130 was passed and signed into law by the Governor.
Not even 5 months into the new school year, the NMPED Secretary is announcing that more changes are now coming to district calendars through rulemaking, or changes which are not in the law. These changes would require all school districts to enact 180 student day calendars for students, with many more days for educators.
Legislation that mandated additional school days was not enacted because it doesn’t fix the lack of resources that currently exists. Mary Daniel Montoya, 6th grade teacher states, “Every day that I’m at school, not supported and not able to do my best work, hurts. We got into this profession because we want to serve kids. We’re here trying to compensate by staying late, working outside our contract day, trying to meet every need…It’s broken some of us.” We can all agree that learning is threatened without the presence of a highly qualified, experienced work force and that we can make the right investments into public education that attracts educators rather than drive them away.
Now, we must work together to give HB 130 time to take effect and show results. We must collectively raise our voice to the NMPED to stop the rule change that mandates 180 student days, and many more teacher days, because they are attempting to coerce this action by force (of rule) The Public Education Department is turning a deaf ear to the input of those who must live with their shortsighted actions.
Please attend the 1-hour NMPED hearing on Monday, December 18th, at 1:30 pm at Mabry Hall in the Jerry Apodaca Education Building and tell NMPED to stop the rule change. Or email and submit your comment to [email protected].