Judge orders New Mexico's PED to create plan for better educating ‘at-risk' students
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Seven years after a district court judge ruled the state isn't meeting its obligation to give at-risk students a good education, that judge is now giving the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) just months to get their act together.
Story continues below
Environment: Fire in bosque area near Socorro grows to 400 acres
Community: Bookstore pushes back against plans to remove homeless camp on property
Don't Miss: APD retires Mounted Unit horse that has served for nearly a decade
That order is tied to the 11-year-old 'Yazzie Martinez' lawsuit, which says that under-served students have a constitutional right to be college-ready. Plaintiffs say the state's taken too long to figure out a plan, and today the judge agreed.
'The PED and the state of New Mexico is not in compliance with this court's final judgement in order. The defendants are ordered to develop a comprehensive remedial plan to address the continuing violation of at-risk student's constitutional rights,' said Santa Fe District Court Judge Matthew Wilson.
Those affected by this court case include Native American students, English language learners, low-income students and those with disabilities. The argument is that those groups face significant educational disparities. As part of the ruling, the plaintiffs in the case have been waiting for the Public Education Department to submit a plan to address teacher workforce issues, class sizes, and a wide range of other factors. Today, Judge Matthew Wilson ordered ped to work with a legislative committee to make a new plan by July. Attorneys for the plaintiffs call it a win.
'Across the state of New Mexico, this is a big problem that we've been dealing with – not only for the past seven years, but generations beyond that… Today's court ruling affirms the fact that we've come this far, we got what we came for, and now we wait to see what the state of New Mexico does next,' said Preston Sanchez, attorney for plaintiffs.
While a draft is due in July, PED has until December to submit a final plan. The courts also require the PED to work with families and educators in order to develop that plan. Reacting to today's ruling, PED released the following statement:
'The New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) welcomes Judge Wilson's decision to lead development of a plan providing all New Mexico students an excellent education, that will lead to resolution of the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit for students, parents and families. Improving student outcomes is central to our mission and this plan will support lasting improvements to our educational system.
The Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit highlighted longstanding systemic challenges state education. The Court directed increased funding and programming for at-risk students, including those from economically disadvantaged homes, English Language Learners, Native American children, and children with disabilities. Since 2019, the state has substantially increased funding and taken significant steps to improve student performance and educator recruitment and retention. '
PED
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
2,000 National Guard troops will be sent to LA amid clashes over immigration raids
LOS ANGELES — The Trump administration said it would send 2,000 National Guard troops into Los Angeles after a second day in which protesters confronted immigration agents during raids of local businesses. The move marks a major escalation in Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration and came amid concerns from some officials in California. The Guard has been deployed to Los Angeles previously, but it has been during widespread civil unrest, including the upheaval associated with the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd, as well as the riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict in 1992. Los Angeles has seen several violent clashes during the recent immigration raids, but they have been limited to isolated areas including the Home Depot in Paramount, a location in L.A.'s fashion district and at the Civic Center. Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School, noted that when the National Guard was sent to L.A. before, it was because we as a state requested it and it was coordinated. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley Law School, said in a text to the Los Angeles Times that Trump has the authority under the Insurrection Act of 1807 to federalize the national guard units of states to suppress 'any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy' that 'so hinders the execution of the laws.' But he called the move very troubling. Such deployment typically happen during 'extreme circumstances... here it seems it was an early response. And I fear that it is to send a message to protesters of the willingness of the federal government to use federal troops to quell protests.' In the most serious incident, a crowd gathered in Paramount in a protest that escalated over the course of the day into a fiery and tumultuous clash with federal agents. By afternoon, the confrontation near a Home Depot at 6400 Alondra Blvd. was declared an unlawful assembly, and officials warned protesters in Spanish and English to quit the scene immediately. During the protest, at least one protester was injured, witnesses reported, and a Border Patrol official said an agent was hurt. Meanwhile, Tom Homan, the Trump administration's 'border czar,' said officials were cracking down hard on the unrest and that the National Guard would be deployed to the city Saturday night. California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed Saturday that the federal government was moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. Newsom criticized the federal action in a statement Saturday evening, saying that local law enforcement was already mobilized and that sending in troops was a move that was 'purposefully inflammatory' and would 'only escalate tensions.' '(T)here is currently no unmet need,' Newsom said. 'This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.' At the Paramount protest, chants of 'Fuera ICE' — ICE, get out — could be heard as flash-bang grenades deployed by federal agents lighted up the scene. The agents appeared to include members of Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations. A group of protesters on a street corner shouted expletives and that there was 'nothing but noise.' Shortly afterward, the grenades exploded at their feet, causing them to briefly scatter. A Los Angeles Times reporter watched one protester gather a bag of trash and light it on fire in the middle of Alondra Boulevard, half a block from where immigration agents were gathered. 'This is a difficult time for our city. As we recover from an unprecedented natural disaster, many in our community are feeling fear following recent federal immigration enforcement actions across Los Angeles County. Reports of unrest outside the city, including in Paramount, are deeply concerning. We've been in direct contact with officials in Washington, D.C., and are working closely with law enforcement to find the best path forward,' L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said after the National Guard deployment was announced. Saturday's scene in Paramount followed raids across Los Angeles on Friday that led to the arrests of 44 people on suspicion of immigration violations, and another on suspicion of obstructing justice. 'Federal law enforcement operations are proceeding as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County,' U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said on X as the standoff unfolded. 'I urge the public to refrain from interfering with these lawful actions. Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution.' In his Fox News interview, Homan, the president's former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director and now 'border czar,' made unsubstantiated claims about the people who had been arrested, saying they included child sex offenders, gang members and national security threats. 'They arrested a lot of bad people yesterday and today,' Homan said. 'We're making Los Angeles safer and Mayor (Karen) Bass ought to be thanking us for making her city safer.' Homan also remarked that ICE agents were often wearing masks as they conducted raids because they were worried about their families being doxxed. In Paramount, a city that is 82% Latino, protesters gathered along Alondra Boulevard Saturday after reports that ICE officers were targeting people at a Home Depot where day laborers commonly gather in search of work. A group of protesters stationed themselves near the Alondra exit of the 710 Freeway, as a second gathered by the Home Depot. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene about 11 a.m. The department clarified in a statement that it 'was not involved in any federal law enforcement operations or actions,' and was present only to assist with traffic and crowd control. By Saturday afternoon, bright orange shopping carts from Home Depot and a blue recycling bin were scattered across the boulevard. The air was acrid with smoke. Federal agents deployed round after round of flash-bangs and pepper balls. Some of the projectiles struck protesters, witnesses said. One woman among the protest group appeared to be bleeding, and another man was treated for injuries. 'There were some individuals around him throwing bricks. One of the windows got shattered and he was knocked unconscious. He seemed in a pretty bad state,' said Nico Thompson-Lleras, an attorney with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights who witnessed the incident. He said it was unclear whether the man was hit by a vehicle, a weapon or something else. Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons, who was present at the scene, said she had not learned of any arrests at the Home Depot. She said the confrontation appeared to have started after protesters spotted immigration officers staging in a nearby business plaza where DHS has an office. She encouraged the crowd to stay calm to avoid violence. She said she was told that the Department of Homeland Security was targeting Home Depots across the county in search of undocumented residents. But she has had little communication from federal authorities about their actions in the city she represents, which is about 4.5 square miles and home to about 57,000 people. 'We don't know what was happening, or what their target was. To think that there would be no heightening of fear and no consequences from the community doesn't sound like good preparation to me,' she said. 'Above all, there is no communication and things are done on a whim. And that creates chaos and fear.' The city of Paramount released a statement reaffirming it was not working with ICE or assisting the immigration operations in any way. 'As a city, we are committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our community — regardless of immigration status,' the statement read. There was no raid at the Paramount Home Depot on Saturday, a federal official told The Times. Helicopter footage from the scene showed law enforcement vehicles blocking access as they closed the road. Border Patrol agents stood lined up. Sheriff's deputies set off flash-bangs to clear a freeway exit of protesters. A U.S. Marshals Service bus approaching the location was surrounded by a crowd as it exited the freeway. Protesters kicked the vehicle and pushed back in an attempt to stop it, before another federal vehicle pulled up alongside the bus. An agent appeared to shoot tear gas to push the crowd back. Lindsay Toczylowski, chief executive of Immigrant Defenders Law Center, said in a post on X that ICE agents threw a teargas canister at two female attorneys with the organization, after they approached to ask calmly that they be allowed to see a warrant and observe the action. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the incident. 'ICE has brought their terror tactics and masked agents to#Paramount this morning - in my district,' wrote U.S. Rep Nanette D. Barragán, whose district includes Paramount, in a post on X. 'This is unacceptable. We will demand answers and accountability. For those out there - please stay safe, protest peacefully, and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.' Protesters burned an American flag while others waved Mexican flags. Some began lining the boulevard with large cement bricks. One immigration agent was cut on his hand from a rock that sailed through his windshield, according to a social media post by U.S. Border Patrol chief Michael W. Banks. Federal officials struck an ominous tone. 'Multiple arrests have already been made for obstructing our operations,' FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on X. 'More are coming. We are pouring through the videos for more perpetrators. You bring chaos, and we'll bring handcuffs.' José Luis Solache Jr., the California Assembly member who represents the Paramount area that includes the Home Depot, said he was on the way to a community event when he saw Border Patrol cars exit the freeway. He decided to turn around. Solache said he arrived and began observing alongside other demonstrators in a peaceful effort when the agents started shooting off canisters in their direction, forcing him and others to run through the smoke. After identifying himself to agents, he tried to get information about what they were doing, but they would not answer his questions, he said. 'You see the community here, demonstrating that they don't want them here,' he said as flash-bangs went off nearby. 'Our hardworking communities are being targeted. These are hardworking families. These are not criminals. You're going to facilities where people are literally working.' Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Man slams 5-year-old against wall, surrenders after hours of barricading himself
Miami-Dade deputies spent almost four hours trying to talk a man of his barricaded apartment after he allegedly slammed his son against a wall Saturday afternoon, injuring the 5-year-old, authorities say. Around 2 p.m., Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputies were alerted to the scene at an apartment complex near Tamiami Park. The young boy suffered a 'laceration' at the home, 2055 SW 122nd Ave. The child was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. There were two other children in the home at the time, according to the Sheriff's office. The man, who has not been identified, barricaded himself inside the apartment and spent hours refusing to listen to the deputies commands to come out. He surrendered around 5:40 p.m. At the scene, the crackle of a negotiator's voice over a megaphone could be heard amid sharp pops of smoke and gas grenades. SWAT teams were positioned around the apartment complex, many aiming high-powered rifles at the building. A video posted to the OnlyinDade social media platform captured the chaotic scene before the surrender, showing heavily armed law enforcement officers surrounding the area. 'Come out with your hands up,' a negotiator called out in both English and Spanish. 'Let us help you,' they pleaded with him. Miami Herald staff writer Milena Malaver contributed to this report. This is a developing story.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Troop C searching for Mansfield larceny suspect
MANSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — State police's Troop C in Mansfield is searching for the suspect who stole a handful of merchandise from a clothing store on Tuesday evening. Just before 6:30 p.m. at the Old Navy located on 95 Storrs Road, a woman left the store with items she did not pay for. Before state police arrived, the female suspect left the store in a black Honda Accord with a Florida license plate. Anyone with information must contact Trooper Martinez at 860-896-3200, ext. 8054. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
