Public News Service

The New Mexico Public Education Department has more than 9,000 educators and administrators enrolled in its Science of Reading training. (lithiumphoto/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

NM program aims to improve kids' reading skills

In the past four years, the way New Mexico children are taught to read has undergone a major shift. Following passage of a state law in 2019…

A New Mexico researcher suspects sports gambling and drinking feed off each other. (motortion/AdobeStock)

NM Research: Sports betting and booze fuel risky behavior

In just six years, the U.S. has pivoted from a complete ban on sports betting to a place where it is legal in most states, and young men could be …

New Mexico is one of 10 states where 20% of school districts have funding below adequate levels, according to a new report. (exellentschools.org)<br />

Report: NM school funding suffers from lack of 'economic capacity'

A new report says state funding for public schools has fallen off a "fiscal cliff" in 39 states, and that New Mexico is one of 10 states where some 60…

Nuevo M�xico es uno de los 10 estados donde el 20% de los distritos escolares tienen fondos por debajo de los niveles adecuados, seg�n un nuevo informe. (exellentschools.org)

Informe: financiación escolar de Nuevo México adolece de falta de "capacidad económica"

Un nuevo informe dice que la financiación estatal para las escuelas públicas ha caído por un "precipicio fiscal" en 39 estados…

The rate of New Mexico high school students not graduating on time was down from 33% a decade ago to 23% in 2019-2020. (Julie/Adobe Stock)

Report: New Mexico's child well-being slowly improving

Child well-being in New Mexico appears to be slowly improving with a marked decline in child poverty. Data from New Mexico Voices for Children found …

Since 2005, research shows the number of journalists employed by newspapers has declined by 60%, a loss of 43,000 reporters and editors. (junce11/AdobeStock)

Study: Shuttered small-town newspapers sink community vitality

Three million residents in more than 200 U.S. counties don't have access to a single local news source, according to a new study. In New Mexico…

First-generation students make up one-third of all college students, but only 27% will attain a degree within four years. (MonkeyBusiness/Adobe Stock)

NM's first-generation students inspire siblings to pursue college

First-generation college students face a host of expectations and challenges - and that's why New Mexico State University will spotlight their accompl…

The number of Hispanic students enrolled in college increased by 45% between 2009 and 2019. (Antonio Tanaka/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Hispanic college students struggling more than others

The percentage of Hispanic college students who report they're struggling to stay in school increased 5% from 2021 to 2022, and was higher than for …

In New Mexico, 44% of student borrowers were under age 35, per data from 2022. (Sidekick/Adobe Stock)

Expert: Master financial aid before taking on student debt

An expert on student loans said many college-bound high-schoolers should do themselves a favor and take a financial literacy class before they pursue …

It's estimated nearly 3,400 New Mexicans have had some student loan debt reduced since 2021 through a U.S. Department of Education program that offers loan forgiveness to college graduates who work in qualified public service jobs. (fizkes/AdobeStock)

NM Student Loan Borrowers Urged to Plan Ahead for Payment Restart

The reboot on student loan payments has financial strategists encouraging New Mexicans with debt to figure out what's doable, what's impossible…

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found trauma is present in almost every age, race, ability, and socioeconomic group. (MNStudios/Pixabay)

NM Teachers Have Tools to Ease 'Back to School' Transition

Since the pandemic, back-to-school season brings up a lot of emotions for parents and kids, and can be even harder for those affected by a school …

Students at New Mexico State University and three other Hispanic-serving institutions are benefiting from a federal grant designed to increase the placement of Hispanic graduates at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (CookieStudio/AdobeStock)

NMSU Trains Hispanic Students as Next-Gen Ag Leaders

Hispanic students at New Mexico State University who are interested in agricultural careers will get help, starting this semester, from a program …

The average young person knows at least one other person who's been injured or killed by a gun, according to a survey by Everytown for Gun Safety and the Southern Poverty Law Center. (michelmond/Adobe Stock)

Report: Young Americans Feel Unsafe, Support Stricter Gun Laws

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and almost 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

ChatGPT, introduced in January, is the fastest-growing app of all time, according to analysis by Swiss bank UBS. (LALAKA/Adobe Stock)

UNM Develops AI Initiative to Introduce Students, Faculty to ChatGPT

In just six months, ChatGPT has become a popular and powerful tool on the internet, and the University of New Mexico is developing an artificial …

Roughly 26% of teenagers and college students volunteer in their communities. (motortion/AdobeStock)<br />

NM Schools Use 'Real-life' Experiences to Ready Students for College, Career

A New Mexico program is offering high school students more real-world experiences to boost their interest in college and a career. Future Focused …

New Mexico used federal pandemic funds to expand child care assistance, which was replaced by state funding during the 2023 legislative session to prevent a reversal. (nmvoices.org)

NM Kids' Well-Being Falls Short; Child Advocates Expect Turnaround

New Mexico ranks last in a new report on kids' overall well-being by state, but children's advocates said the two-year-old data does not tell the …

The phenomenon called summer learning loss is notable in countries with lengthy breaks, including the United States and Canada. (AdobeStock/peopleimages.com)

NM's Schoolchildren Get Help Through 'Make Summer Fair' Program

Summer, with its 90-day break from school, can be fun but also a challenge for New Mexico's rural kids who rely on school for companionship and meals…

The two-year COVID-19 pandemic forced many public school children to attend their classes remotely via internet. (Kawee/Adobe Stock)

ABQ Bus Driver, Others Praised for COVID Response at Testy D.C. Hearing

The American Federation of Teachers president was grilled in Congress on Wednesday about the union's response to the coronavirus pandemic - but manage…

La pandemia de COVID-19, que dur� dos a�os, oblig� a muchos alumnos de escuelas p�blicas a asistir a clases a distancia a trav�s de Internet. (Kawee/Adobe Stock)

Conductor de autobús ABQ y otras personas elogiadas por respuesta de COVID en audiencia

El presidente de la Federación Americana de Profesores fue interrogado el miércoles en el Congreso sobre la respuesta del sindicato ante la …

New Mexico's college or higher graduation rate is 28.1%, compared with 30.3% in neighboring Arizona, according to data from the World Population Review. (Sharkshock/AdobeStock)

$1.3M Grant Introduces NM Middle, High Schoolers to College Options

Research shows college graduates have 60% more job opportunities than non-graduates, and a New Mexico program will make sure kids - starting in …

College students who are also parents have high dropout rates, with approximately 52% leaving school within six years without obtaining a degree, according to the Institute of Women's Policy Research. (Ersin/AdobeStock)

NM Community College Boosts Support for Student Parents

In today's higher-education landscape, more than one-in-five college students also are parents - leading one New Mexico college to create a Student …

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has internship openings for Latino youth interested in pursuing careers in public land management, program coordination, outdoor recreation and community engagement in California, Minnesota and Oregon. (Kayt Jonsson/USFWS)

MANO Internships Broaden Horizons for NM Latinos

More than 200 young U.S. Latinos completed internships last year, which could lead to jobs historically difficult for them to access. Unpaid …

Child poverty rates worsened nationwide in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but improved slightly in New Mexico. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)<br />

Report: NM Child Well-Being Fared Better Than Expected During Pandemic

New Mexico's Voices for Children has released its latest Kids Count Data Book - noting some quality-of-life improvements despite COVID, but also …

Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs) educate more than 3.2 million students every year, according to the USDA. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

NMSU Minority Students Get Boost Toward Ag Careers

Students from underrepresented groups are being recruited by New Mexico State University and California State University-Chico for a new program aimed…

Las Instituciones al Servicio de los Hispanos (HSI) educan a m�s de 3.2 millones de estudiantes cada a�o, seg�n el USDA. (JackF/Adobe Stock)<br />

Estudiantes minoritarios de NMSU reciben impulso hacia carreras agrícolas

La Universidad Estatal de Nuevo México y la Universidad Estatal de California-Chico están reclutando estudiantes de grupos subrepresentados …

Virtual tutoring for K-12 students has shown mixed results, but New Mexico is counting on it to improve academic performance. (Westock/AdobeStock)

New Mexico Turns to Virtual Tutoring To Boost Student Grades

To boost educational outcomes, New Mexico will start the new year with a free, virtual tutoring program - focused on math, language arts, and science …

In a 2018 ruling, a state District Court judge found New Mexico was failing to prepare students equally for college and a career, specifically citing a lack of sufficient education for Native Americans. (AdobeStock/mmg1design)

NM's Boost in Early Education Funds Included in Federal Omnibus Bill

New Mexico voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question in November to spend more money on early childhood education and public schools, and now …

An estimated 29 million Latinos are eligible to vote in the United States, with a record 11.7 million voting in the 2018 midterms. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

Last-Minute Campaigning Brings President Biden to New Mexico

President Joe Biden delivered remarks about his student loan debt-relief program at a stop in New Mexico Thursday, while campaigning for Gov…

Se estima que 29 millones de latinos ser�n elegibles para votar en los EE. UU., con un r�cord de 11,7 millones de votantes en las elecciones de medio t�rmino de 2018. (Niyazz/Adobe Stock)

Campaña de última hora lleva al presidente Biden a Nuevo México

El presidente Joe Biden comentó sobre su programa de alivio de la deuda estudiantil en una parada en Nuevo México el jueves, mientras hac…

The 2022 Kids Count report found 56% of New Mexico three- and four-year-olds are not in preschool, the lowest ranking in the nation. (Susan Warner/savethechildren.org)

NM Voters to Decide Major Funding Shift for Early Childhood Education

In educational performance, New Mexico consistently ranks at or near the bottom among the 50 states, but it could change if an influx of dedicated …

Native Americans face unique barriers when they pursue higher education, but more scholarships and tuition support could help, according to research by the National Native Scholarships Providers. (collegehorizons.org)

Money, Family Responsibilities Limit Indigenous College Attendance

Native Americans must often overcome long odds to attain a college degree, but first-of-its kind data is helping educators better understand the …

The COVID pandemic caused major challenges for families and blunted progress in New Mexico to improve child well-being, according to New Mexico Voices for Children. (DeanMoriarty/Pixaby)

NM Struggles in Child Well-Being Report but Celebrates Positive Trends

Since 2020, New Mexico has been working to create a more cohesive, equitable and effective early-childhood system. But it could be a while before it …

Post-pandemic, Do�a Ana Community College in Las Cruces will offer classes 60% online and 40% in-person in Fall 2022. (dacc.nmsu.edu)

NM Community College Creates Path to Bachelor's Degree

When it opened in 1973, Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces, New Mexico, focused on relatively short-term training. It's since branched out …

Pospandemia, Do�a Ana Community College en Las Cruces ofrecer� clases 60% en l�nea y 40% en persona en el oto�o de 2022. (dacc.nmsu.edu)

Colegio Comunitario crea camino hacia la licenciatura en NM

La inscripción en universidades de dos y cuatro años se ha visto muy afectada durante la pandemia, y los administradores ahora deben …

The pandemic and a strong job market have reduced college enrollment - but studies show college graduates will earn nearly $1 million more over the course of their careers. (viviandu/dailycal.org)

College Degree Increasingly Requires Part-Time Job

Many U.S. college degree programs can take years of full-time study, a serious time crunch for working adults. That's why more universities are …

Research in 2020 and 2021 at the University of New Mexico found a higher percentage of undergraduates were food insecure than graduate/professional students. (news.unm.edu)

More Money for Food Pantries at NM Colleges, Universities

More than half of Native American students at the University of New Mexico face food insecurity, with Hispanics second-most affected, at 35%…

Passage of Senate Bill 1 will raise the salaries for New Mexico teachers an average of 20% starting on July 1. (wwkf.org)

New Mexico Teachers Praise "Living Wage" Salary Increase

Teachers returning to classrooms in New Mexico this fall will see the first significant pay raise in several years. As of July 1, all teachers in …

More than 90% of Taos County residents report having at least a high school diploma, but only about 28% have a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (pixels/Pixabay)

Taos Group Receives Funds to Boost Rural Higher Ed, Workforce

A Taos-based group will spend the next two years as part of an initiative to improve higher education and workforce systems in Taos County. The Taos …

New Mexico is trying to buck the trend in at least 19 states, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, by expanding rather than limiting voter access. (unitedstatesofcare.org)

Landmark 'New Mexico Voting Rights Act' Stalls in Senate

Amid support and criticism, a marathon public hearing and debate over a bill to bolster voting access ended in the New Mexico Roundhouse Friday …

In surveying Americans over a year's time, the Pew Research Center found that roughly a quarter of adults said they hadn't read an entire book or even part of one. (kaboompics/Pixabay)

It's February: Shouldn't You Be Reading?

You might think older Americans would read more than their younger counterparts, because of retirement or a more flexible lifestyle. In fact…

Child well-being in New Mexico was steadily improving prior to the onset of the pandemic, according to a new report from the state's Voices for Children. (AlexandraKoch/Pixabay)

Report: NM's Hispanic Families Hurt Most by Pandemic

New Mexico's families of color, Hispanic families in particular, have been hit hardest by income losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to …

The James Webb Space Telescope's 18 special lightweight beryllium mirrors were manufactured in 11 U.S. states including at Boulder, Colorado's Ball Aerospace. (NASA/Ken Hutchison-Ball Aerospace)

NM Has Role in NASA's Next-Generation Space Telescope

A NASA mission 25 years in development is finally ready for launch, and contributors from the Land of Enchantment are eager to join its search for …

An international conference this week featuring linguists, educators, and practitioners will address ways to preserve indigenous languages. (marxelocinema/Pixabay)

Protecting the Future by Restoring Indigenous Languages

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- In anticipation of a new, decade-long focus on preserving indigenous languages, the first-ever conference on "Restoring and …

COVID-19 daily cases could reach 1,000 in New Mexico by the end of August, according to data modeling by Los Alamos National Laboratory. (hed.state.nm.us)

NMSU/UNM Classes Resume, COVID Protocols Announced

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Administrators at New Mexico State University know they're headed into a fall semester this week facing a spike in COVID-19 cases…

As schools prepare to kick off fall semester, there are many unknowns as new waves of COVID-19 outbreaks could emerge. (educadormarcossv/Pixabay)

NM Schools Resume In-Person Learning with Mask Protocols

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The youngest students, along with faculty and staff, will need to mask up in the Rio Rancho schools when classes begin next …

New Mexico had a 45% improvement in children without health insurance in 2019, compared with the previous year, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (darkside-550/Pixabay)

NM Notes Marked Improvements in Child Well-Being Report

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A New Mexico child-advocate group is expressing cautious optimism about incremental improvements in the latest Kids Count report…

In 2017, only 21% of Native American children younger than 18 lived in a household with a parent who completed a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 52% of white households. (stgo.org)

Native Americans Anticipate Educational Impact with Haaland at Helm

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Native American educators say tribal representation at the highest levels of government will likely encourage more civic engagement …

New Mexico's Early Childhood Education Trust Fund will help provide a long-term funding source to invest in New Mexico's youngest children, according to New Mexico Voices for Children.(Victoria_Borodinova/Pixabay)

Pluses Outweigh Minuses in NM Kids Count Data Despite Pandemic

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A report on New Mexico's children and families showed steady improvement in child poverty since 2016, declining from nearly 31% to 2…

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NM: Education