New Mexico
- New Mexico
funding priorities for p-12 and/or higher education
During 2020, New Mexico held two legislative sessions, 54th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session. New Mexico also held the First Special Session of the 54th Legislature, to address a 2020-2021 $2.4 billion SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) budget deficit. Governor Lujan Grisham has mobilized a "cradle to career"1 school funding model that includes approximately 47 percent of all new and recurring spending for the education pipeline from early childhood education (ECE) to higher education. In total, the recommended executive budget allocates $200.3 million in additional education funding, totaling $3.4 billion2.
changes to funding formula for p-12 and/or higher education
The New Mexico state equalization formula was instituted in 1974. The intent of the 1974 Public School Finance Act [22-8-17 through 25 NMSA 1978] was to equalize fiscal revenue for schools, and to guarantee each New Mexico public school has equal access funds. No changes were made to the public school equalization formula or to the Public School Finance Act during the 2020 legislative session.
pressing state issues affecting p-12 and/or higher education
New Mexico's 54th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session adjourned February 20th, 2020. During this session the legislature introduced House Bill (HB) 23, allocating $3,244,323.3 for state equalization, $59,180,200 for teacher salary increases, $50,152,100 for at-risk students, $30,000,000 for district curriculum, $119,895,900 for K-5 programs, and $71,394,100 for COVID-19 extended learning time programs. HB2 appropriates $60,627,500 from the federal temporary assistance for needy families block grant, $41,527,500 from child care, $14,100,000 from pre-kindergarten, and $5,000,000 from home-visiting services for ECE. HB834, also works to expand funding for ECE by establishing the ECE and care program fund. [End Page 325]
The Legislature also passed HB925, which institutionalizes a teacher residency and preparation program at public post-secondary educational institutions and tribal colleges. There were three bills in regards to capital outlays, HB2546, adjusts the amount used to calculate state distributions to school districts that impose a public school capital improvements tax, HB3497, authorizes severance tax bonds, and clarifies bond regulations, for those expenditures related to capital improvement projects, and HB3558, allows the legislature to reappropriate capital improvement fund balances during fiscal emergencies. Finally, Senate Bill (SB) 969, institutionalizes a statewide online financial reporting system. Ultimately, $3,000,000 of funding is appropriated in order to carry-out the nuances of this bill.
New Mexico held the First Special Session of the 54th Legislature, June 18th-June 22nd, 2020, to address a FY 2020-2021 $2.4 billion budget deficit, two bills were passed with regard to state appropriations. HB110, eliminated $59,180,200 for four percent teacher salary increases, reduced ECE and care program funds by $3,300,000, and reduced the pre-kindergarten program by $1,000,000. HB1 also eliminated $6,000,000 from the elementary physical education program, and reduced the $119,895,900 in K-5 plus program to $79,895,900. HB1 also reduced the opportunity scholarship program of the higher education department by $7,000,000, the instruction and general purposes appropriations to each higher education institution by $18,795,400, and higher education department financial aid for low-income by $5,000,000. SB511 appropriated $743,000 for various educational projects across the state, and $1,710,000 for various higher education projects across the state.
exclusive to p-12: what are the alternatives to traditional public school offered by your state? what does the trend in funding look like for these alternatives?
The New Mexico State Legislature approved New Mexico's charter school law in 1993. Approximately 26,000 students attend charter schools in New Mexico, between seven and eight percent of the state's total public school population. Charter schools have historically been heavily funded in New Mexico, when juxtaposed against the scale of students served. Currently, charter total revenue per-pupil is $11,592...
