The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) has submitted a draft of the Martinez/Yazzie Action Plan to the court involved in the Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico lawsuit. The draft, developed with assistance from WestEd and Legislative Education Study Committee staff, is open for public comment until October 17. Community members can review the plan at martinezyazzieactionplan.org and provide feedback through an online survey available in both English and Spanish.
The draft plan addresses how New Mexico intends to fulfill its constitutional duty to offer all students access to a uniform and adequate education, focusing on English learners, Native American students, students with disabilities, and those experiencing poverty. Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla expressed gratitude for community involvement, stating that it will significantly influence education for young people in the state.
The PED partnered with LANL Foundation to facilitate public engagement. Meetings were held across various locations in New Mexico, including Albuquerque and Las Cruces, as well as virtual sessions aimed at reaching rural areas. These sessions provided food, childcare, and interpretation services in multiple languages to ensure broad participation.
Feedback was gathered from over 1,000 participants at regional meetings and more than 1,200 online survey responses. Stakeholder meetings included tribal leaders, educators, teacher preparation program directors, state legislators from the Legislative Education Study Committee, and other key public education figures throughout July to September.
A final version of the action plan is expected by November 3, 2025. For further details or updates on the Martinez/Yazzie Action Plan, visit martinezyazzieactionplan.org.
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