Jul 15 2020

Still at 50th, New Mexico must continue to invest in our kids in hard times

2021-01-06T16:06:44-07:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Health Blog, Kids Count Blog|

New Mexico’s 50th ranking in child well-being is the result of a decade of austerity due to choices lawmakers made during the last recession. In 2019 and early 2020, Lawmakers began to put the state on the right path for our kids. The pandemic and current recession do not need to derail us.

Sep 18 2019

Advancing equity in New Mexico: Education

2023-02-15T11:34:38-07:00Blog Posts, Education Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

The decision in the Yazzie/Martinez education lawsuit was a watershed moment for the state of New Mexico, allowing us to finally address the chronic under-funding of our public schools and to tailor them to meet the cultural and linguistic needs of our children. And while the Legislature did provide more money for the system, they failed to meet the judge's order.

Jun 18 2019

Advancing equity in New Mexico: Immigration

2023-02-15T11:36:14-07:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Human Rights/Civic Participation Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

Given New Mexico’s substantial immigrant population and that group’s important contributions to our state – which includes paying taxes – it is essential that we enact policies that promote opportunity for all families. During the 2019 New Mexico legislative session, lawmakers passed several bills that will have broad benefits to immigrants, their families, and the state as a whole.

Jun 04 2019

Advancing equity in New Mexico: College affordability

2023-02-15T11:36:41-07:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

Higher education is one of the most powerful engines of social mobility. Our economy and families thrive, and our future is brighter, when we make adequate, strategic investments in our public universities and colleges and ensure that they are accessible for all youth. But New Mexico has underfunded its public higher education institutions for years, and tuition has increased as a result. New Mexicans of color are among those who are hit the hardest by these budget choices.

Mar 30 2019

Aggressive litigation not way to teach NM’s children

2024-03-28T15:24:50-06:00Blog Posts, Education Blog, Education News Coverage, News Coverage|

First and foremost, we need to do what’s best for our children. Spending money and time on aggressive litigation against a court order that simply requires us to educate our children at the standard set forth in our own constitution is not what’s best for our children. Our K-12 education system needs fundamental change, and that will not occur unless we place a relentless focus on improving what’s happening in the classroom, not “winning” in the courtroom.

Jan 15 2019

Changing the course on child well-being

2019-01-15T15:15:28-07:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Health Blog, Kids Count Blog, Tax and Budget Blog|

The past decade of austerity has been hard on New Mexico’s children. Still, we are optimistic about the future because we believe in the strength and resiliency of New Mexico’s families. We know we can build stronger communities and support more resilient families and children so that they can thrive. But we can only build a stronger New Mexico if our policymakers are willing to provide the revenue we need to make these investments.

Oct 19 2018

To make all kids count, we must count all kids

2024-03-28T15:10:52-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog, Kids Count Blog, Kids Count News Coverage, News Coverage, Racial and Ethnic Equity Blog|

This is a perilous moment for New Mexico’s children. There’s no getting around it. Yet the future is not predetermined for kids in New Mexico. This state’s leaders can be inspired by this moment to do better by its children. They can choose to collaborate inclusively and act boldly and swiftly. That’s what it will take — both to position the state well for the 2020 census and to give children a better chance to thrive.

Jul 24 2018

Ruling in K-12 funding lawsuit is movement in right direction

2018-07-30T12:32:05-06:00Blog Posts, Education Blog, Kids Count Blog|

Given the many challenges faced by our children, New Mexico should be making whatever investments are necessary to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive and achieve success. Instead, over the last decade New Mexico has made some of the deepest cuts to K-12 education in the country. While some funding was restored during the 2018 legislative session, we are still far behind where we should be on a per-student, inflation-adjusted basis.

May 11 2018

The devastating math of the child care cliff effect

2018-06-26T12:21:51-06:00Blog Posts, Economic Security Blog, Education Blog|

Imagine having to turn down a raise in pay because it will actually make you less financially secure. Sounds crazy, but that's what many working parents have to do--and just when they're making headway in the quest to provide their family with economic stability. It's all due to the "cliff effect" and, in New Mexico, the cliff effect for child care assistance can throw families who get even a small raise right back into poverty.

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