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SANTA FE, N.M. — A New Mexico state court has mandated the establishment of a remedial plan aimed at enhancing K-12 education, particularly for Native American students and those from low-income backgrounds, following a ruling that found the state had failed to provide adequate public schooling for these groups.
This latest decision from District Court Judge Matthew Wilson builds upon a significant ruling made in 2018, which led to increased state spending on public education by billions. However, despite these investments, persistent issues remain in fulfilling the state’s constitutional obligations toward a diverse group of at-risk students, which include those learning English as a second language and students with disabilities.
Judge Wilson stated, “The defendants are ordered to come up with a comprehensive remedial plan to address the continuing violation of at-risk students’ constitutional rights. A court-ordered plan would provide guidance to the legislature and the executive branches of government, particularly during tough budgetary decisions that must endure political and economic changes.”
New Mexico has historically ranked low in terms of educational performance across the United States. Challenges in improving test scores and graduation rates existed long before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, lawmakers have allocated significant resources to increase school attendance, expand broadband access, and address staffing shortages, fueled by a surge in state revenues from oil and gas production.
The litigation known as the Yazzie-Martinez case was initiated over a decade ago by representatives of students and school districts primarily within Native American and Hispanic communities. It brought to light deep-rooted deficiencies within New Mexico’s education system.
In court documents, the administration of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham acknowledged the need for improvement while also noting a 62% rise in annual K-12 funding since 2016, bringing the total to $4.2 billion for the 2024 fiscal year. Additionally, numerous new initiatives designed for at-risk students have been introduced.
Janelle Garcia, a spokesperson for the Public Education Department, expressed that the agency views the ruling as a welcomed chance to lead the development of a plan that ensures an excellent education for all New Mexico students, potentially bringing closure to the Martinez-Yazzie case for families involved.
The judge denied a request to assign a state legislative agency focused on education and accountability to lead the remediation efforts. Instead, he determined that the state Public Education Department should collaborate with the plaintiffs and engage an outside consultant to formulate the plan.
This year, Attorney General Raúl Torrez reaffirmed his support for the plaintiffs in their pursuit to ensure that the state fulfills its educational obligations to students.
The implementation of the remedial plan is projected to take up to five years, which may also result in the conclusion of ongoing litigation.
In a related matter, the governor recently vetoed legislation aimed at expanding specialized schools dedicated to Native American languages and cultures, opting not to comment on the decision.
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