Rep. Gail Armstrong, the New Mexico representative for the 49th District, said that the court's decision to block the Governor's 180-day school mandate is a victory for rural communities. This statement was made in a press release on January 26.
"Today's ruling is a huge win for rural New Mexico. The intent of the law is clear and today that was solidified," said Armstrong, 49th District NM Representative. "For too long, the Governor has failed to recognize how her mandate would have negatively impacted rural communities around the state and has created vast uncertainty for our students and families. Control of our schools at the local level is vital to the success of our communities."
According to KOB, in 2023, the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) proposed a rule mandating a 180-day school calendar for all public and charter schools. The aim was to standardize instructional time and improve educational outcomes. However, this proposal faced opposition from over half of the state's school districts, particularly those in rural areas operating on four-day weeks. These districts expressed concerns about increased operational costs and logistical challenges. In January, Judge Dustin K. Hunter ruled against the PED's 180-day requirement, siding with the districts and suspending the rule statewide.
A group of New Mexico school district superintendents filed a lawsuit on April 18, 2024, against the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) and Secretary Arsenio Romero to block this rule requiring 180 instructional days per school year. The New Mexico School Superintendents Association and numerous superintendents argued that the rule conflicts with existing statutes and would force rural districts with four-day school weeks to extend their calendars. This extension would increase costs for transportation, meals, and utilities. The lawsuit was filed in the 9th Judicial District Court in Curry County and alleged that PED attempted to enforce the rule early by requiring districts to submit compliant budgets and calendars by April 15, 2024, despite the rule’s official start date of July 1, 2024.
According to her website, Rep. Armstrong has served as the State Representative for New Mexico’s District 49 since 2017, representing Socorro, Catron, and Valencia counties. In 2022, she was elected Republican Caucus Chair and has been advocating for rural communities in the state legislature. Her policy focus includes water management, economic development, education, and public safety.
