New Mexico teachers now have free access to a new online platform offering classroom-ready lessons and activities. The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) launched the New Mexico Open Educational Resources website, which can be accessed at https://oer.ped.nm.gov/. This site provides lesson plans, classroom activities, and multimedia resources aligned with state standards that educators can download, adapt, and share without cost.
Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla said, "These are lessons created by New Mexico teachers for New Mexico students. They reflect our state’s unique cultures and meet our students where they are." The PED developed this platform in 2023 as a centralized hub for teacher-vetted instructional materials. The Black Education Act Bureau and the Curriculum and Instruction Division led the initiative in collaboration with the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education.
The site includes educational content from various sources such as the Indigenous Instructional Scope, Black history curriculum, and New Mexico history materials. Collaborations with organizations like New Mexico State University, the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program, Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, Acequias and Land Grant Education Project, along with museums and cultural entities under the Department of Cultural Affairs, have expanded available resources.
This platform supports several state education acts including the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act, Black Education Act, Hispanic Education Act, and Indian Education Act. Padilla emphasized that it fulfills commitments outlined in the Martinez/Yazzie Action Plan by stating, "Every New Mexico student needs access to high-quality, culturally responsive instructional materials. This platform helps us meet that obligation."
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