State educators say they are on hold waiting to see how federal DEI demands will impact NM students
Local school districts say they are waiting for direction from the New Mexico Public Education Department concerning federal diversity, equity and inclusion demands. (Photo courtesy Santa Fe Public Schools)
New Mexico educators say federal demands to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs or lose funding are 'frustrating' and it's unclear how they might ultimately impact students.
The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to state education leaders last week ordering them to certify their compliance with federal requirements banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices in order to continue receiving federal assistance.
States were given 10 days to respond to the letter, but a spokesperson for the federal education department told Source NM that the deadline was extended to April 24.
Michael Chavez, superintendent of Hatch Valley Public Schools, told Source NM that he feels districts are in a 'wait and see' situation and that he hasn't received any specific directive from the New Mexico Public Education Department about how the state will respond.
'I guess the first question I have is: 'What does that mean for us?'' he said. 'I don't know what that means because we're all about providing equity…Are we talking equality or we talking equity, because that's two different things.'
Hatch Valley Public Schools consists of five schools from elementary to high school, and serves fewer than 2,000 students. A majority of children come from families living below the poverty line and many are English Language Learners, Chavez said.
Chavez told Source that about 15 to 20% of the Hatch Valley district's budget is made up of federal funds. He pointed out that Title I and Title II funds are particularly important to the Hatch Valley district as they provide federal financial assistance for at-risk students as well as professional development for teachers serving these students.
'We'll roll with the punches and do whatever we have to do, but we're not going to compromise on providing equitable services for kids,' Chavez said. He added that a majority of his district's budget comes from the state and described the federal money as 'extra' for expanding programs even further.
He noted that the spring budget conference for all public schools in the state is this week — during which districts develop their budgets for the next year — and said he hopes the state will 'share with us any information that they have.'
Janelle Taylor Garcia, a spokesperson for the state education department, said in a written statement to Source NM that the department 'is working closely with the New Mexico Department of Justice and the Governor's Office on addressing these directives. NMPED will continue to monitor communications from the U.S. Department of Education and remains focused on supporting districts and charters in serving all our student populations in the state.'
Stan Rounds, executive director of the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders, told Source that he is working with Education Secretary Mariana Padilla as much as possible to develop a strategy for dealing with the Trump administration's demands. He said he is also working with the American Association of School Administrators, his organization's federal counterpart.
'Our hope is to be able to retain programs and funds that have been in play, so it's navigation as much as anything that we're having to do,' Rounds told Source.
Whitney Holland, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico chapter, told Source that from the perspective of teachers in the state, 'our students are being used as political pawns.' She said she is concerned for the 'unique populations' of students who require additional assistance federal money pays for, as well as school social workers and occupational therapists.
'And that is super, super frustrating because we've hit this really good stride where every year we're chipping away at the narrative of 51st in education and school funding and all of that. And then to have this come, this blow come from the federal level, it feels like a huge step backwards,' Holland said.
She added that if the certification letter does not work to satisfy federal demands, she anticipates the Trump administration will 'continue to put the pressure on.'
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