GOAL 2: Equity
Equitable access to the benefits afforded by a high quality educational system must be expanded.

PROTECT AND ENHANCE CITIZEN INPUT INTO STATE EDUCATIONAL POLICY

We believe that the citizens of New Mexico must have maximum democratic participation in statewide education policy. Toward this end we oppose any constitutional changes to remove the election of the State Board of Education from the hands of the citizens. Additionally, we support a constitutional amendment requiring that Boards of Regents of constitutionally created educational entities be elected.

Restructuring of educational governance must preserve the ability of educational employees and the general public to influence educational policy in a democratic manner; if such restructuring includes the creation of a secretary of education appointed by the governor, the powers and duties of that office must include mechanisms to insure the active consideration of input from educational employees and the general public.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS / PARAPROFESSIONALS’ CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Educational employers should be encouraged to provide salary schedules that promote career advancement and advanced training for educational support professionals/paraprofessionals, including education assistants, maintenance personnel, custodial personnel, transportation personnel, and all other vital support personnel Historically, instructional paraprofessionals’ hourly wages have not been competitive. The creation of such salary schedules will address this inequity. To promote this goal we support the passage of legislation to create a Training and Experience Factor to help fund such career ladder salary schedules.

HIGHER EDUCATION STAFFING

We support legislative oversight requiring the Commission on Higher Education to correct procedures in institutions of higher education that reduce educational opportunity by lowering staff morale. Practices such as low classified staff salaries, low faculty salaries, merit pay, replacing full-time employees with part-time employees, and filling regular positions with temporary employees all contribute to staff turnover and low morale.  (see provision in platform)

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

To ensure all education employees have the right to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment (including salaries, benefits, and professional issues), the legislature must to pass a public employee bargaining law. The law must permit a broad scope of bargaining that allows education employees real decision-making on critical educational issues.

FUNCTIONAL FUNDING FORMULA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Public schools must be funded equitably for both returning and new students. All students new to a school district must be funded at their full value under the New Mexico Public School Funding Formula. A study must be conducted to determine the usefulness of the "prior year funding" concept and its effect on our "needs-based" funding formula.

FUNDING HIGH PRIORITY SCHOOLS

Schools placed on New Mexico’s School Improvement Schools list should not be treated punitively. Legislation should be passed to provide additional resources and support to allow these schools to meet the unique needs of their student populations. The legislation should promote strategies to recruit and retain staff with the expertise to meet these unique needs. The legislation should also include adequate resources to meet the unique needs of schools placed in "corrective action" by the state board of education. The legislation should require authenticated student performance data from criterion referenced exams along with educator prepared assessment and other factors to validate placing schools in corrective action.

Schemes to privatize the education of these students are an abdication of public accountability and should not be tolerated. These schools must remain under the control of public entities.

Goal 3: Significantly Increased Funding for Public Education
The Legislature must provide significant funding increases for public education.

PUBLIC MONEY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The New Mexico State Constitution requires a system of free uniform public schools. The limited financial educational resources of the state must be directed toward fulfillment of this constitutional mandate. We oppose any attempts to use public funds for private school vouchers, tuition tax credits for attendance at a private school, or for-profit management of public schools. 

SCHOOL FUNDING TO ENSURE QUALITY EDUCATION

The Legislature must return to the original view of the unit value as an empirically determined predictor of actual program need. The unit value must reflect real program costs and that increases in the unit value must reflect any mandated changes as well as inflation. All districts must be held harmless in the event of any changes in the funding formula. We believe it to be crucial that the legislature solve the equity and adequacy concerns regarding public school funding, rather than promoting a judicial solution to this pressing problem. Higher education must receive funding that prioritizes staff and faculty salary increases over higher education capital outlay. 

REVENUE

We support increases in funding for public education. As a result of this need, state revenues dedicated to public education must be sufficient for the task. We support a complete study of New Mexico tax and revenue generating capacity with the goal of providing adequate funds for the needs of public education and other state needs. We oppose any precipitous attempts to reduce revenues from any source before this study is completed. Public schools and higher education must receive a proportion of any state surplus equal to their portion of the general fund.

Goal 4: School Modernization
New Mexico’s students and education employees have a right to attend classes and work in safe, well equipped buildings.

PUBLIC SCHOOL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ACT

The funding of the state match for the Public School Capital Improvements Act should be funded by the 2003 legislature from available revenues or surpluses, not from general obligation bonds. The state per member match, currently $50, should be increased.

FUNDING CAPITAL OUTLAY

In order to build new schools, modernize existing school facilities, and provide safe learning and working environments, a capital-funding plan based on principles of equity must be fostered and maintained. The final solution should consider growth, program need, and local school district funding capacity. An adequate and equitable capital outlay funding mechanism should be developed for New Mexico’s public colleges and universities.

Special funding consideration must be given to facilities expansion required by statutory or regulatory program changes, such as full-day kindergarten.