N.M. education secretary: Yazzie/Martinez plan should be ready by regular session | Education

A five-year plan aimed at meeting a district judge’s decision in the landmark Yazzie / Martinez lawsuit should be available for public comment next month, State Secretary-designate for Public Education Kurt Steinhaus announced on Monday.

Steinhaus and Indian Education Assistant Secretary Lashawna Tso shared a brief update on the plan with the Indian Legislature Committee on Monday.

The Ministry of Education has hired the former head of Santa Fe Public Schools and former Secretary of State for Public Education Veronica García to write the draft plan, which will align with a major strategic draft of the department.

Steinhaus expressed hope on Monday that a completed plan with budget recommendations would be made available to lawmakers before the coming legislative term in January, and called for longer-term – rather than one-off – investments in areas such as teacher retention and social and emotional learning.

The aim of the plan is to create a fairer education system for students from four subgroups who do not have access to adequate education in the lawsuit: Native American students, English learners, those from low-income households and children with disabilities.

Public Education Department staff are making visits to tribal areas and pueblos, including the school districts named in the 2018 lawsuit, as part of the planning process.

Once the public comment on the proposal is complete, the education department can change the plan based on public contributions.

While committee members praised Steinhaus, a former headmaster of Los Alamos Public Schools, for running the education department, others called for a step beyond a draft plan like the proposed one.

“If we really want the tribes to do what they think they should do with their children on their own sovereign land, it is the responsibility of the state and the federal government to give schools back to the tribes …” said Senator Benny Shedo , D-Jemez Pueblo. This is the only way we can change. “

Senator Brenda McKenna, D-Corrales, echoed Sheendo’s opinion.

“The closer we get to the PED to give our autonomy” [Native] Nations and pueblos, the better we are, ”she said.