The New Mexico Public Education Department has submitted a revised Martinez/Yazzie Action Plan to the court, incorporating feedback from various community stakeholders. The updated plan aims to enhance educational equity for Native American students, English learners, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students across the state.
Input was gathered through public meetings, listening sessions, a statewide survey, and written comments over several months. WestEd and the Legislative Education Study Committee assisted in analyzing this feedback. Mariana D. Padilla, Secretary of Public Education, said: "We listened to what communities told us they need, and this plan reflects those priorities." She emphasized that "every student deserves access to quality education that respects their culture and language."
Key revisions in the plan include specific outcomes and performance measures to track progress, expanded support for targeted student groups, enhanced educator training on cultural and linguistic responsiveness, and stronger collaboration frameworks between various educational entities. Additionally, an online accountability tool will be created to cross-reference funding with program implementation and outcomes.
The department remains committed to engaging stakeholders continuously to monitor progress and improve implementation outcomes. The Martinez/Yazzie case specifically addresses educational equity issues in New Mexico. More details on the updated plan can be found at martinezyazzieactionplan.org.
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