ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico’s investment in K-12 education—which is crucial for communities to thrive and the state economy to offer broad opportunity—has declined dramatically in recent years. New Mexico cut its general school funding by nearly 14 percent between 2008 and 2014, according to a new report released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan policy research organization based in Washington, D.C.

ALBUQUERQUE—A report released this week by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) calls the food assistance program SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps) the single largest provider of nutrition assistance to children in struggling families across the country. The report also shows that 46 percent of New Mexico’s young children—ages zero to four—receive SNAP benefits. That’s the highest rate in the nation.

ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico was still spending less per-student on K-12 public education in 2015 than it did before the recession when funding is adjusted for inflation. In the two years since then, funding increases—which amounted to less than 1 percent a year—have still been too low to keep pace with inflation and student population growth.

ALBUQUERQUE—Five New Mexicans recently joined the New Mexico Voices for Children Board of Directors. They are: Susan Herrera, Polly Dement, Kimberly Curry, Cindy Nava, and Antonio Granillo. “It’s wonderful to have this diverse group of accomplished New Mexicans join our Board,” said Board Co-Chair Don Simonson.

ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico Voices for Children issued the following statement from executive director James Jimenez regarding Governor Martinez’s agreement to call a special legislative session: “Closed-door deals aren’t in the public’s interest. And quick ‘solutions’ that fail to promote long-term public investment don’t serve New Mexicans.

The Board for Directors of New Mexico Voices for Children has hired James Jimenez, MPA, to lead the child advocacy organization as its executive director. He replaces Veronica C. García, Ed.D., who left NM Voices at the end of July to serve as interim superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools.

ALBUQUERQUE—A total of four youths and five adults will be honored today for their work to make New Mexico a better place. The presentations will be made during the 4th Annual KIDS COUNT Conference, which begins 7:30am and is presented by New Mexico Voices for Children.

ALBUQUERQUE— New Mexico Voices for Children today applauded President Obama’s designation of the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a National Monument. The historic building and park are seen as the birthplace of the struggle for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

New Mexico retains its ranking of 49^th out of 50 states, according to the 2016 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This marks the third year in a row that the state has ranked next-to-last in the nation for child well-being; only Mississippi has ranked lower.

More than 5 million children in the United States have had a parent incarcerated at some point in their lives, including 52,000 kids in New Mexico—10 percent of New Mexico’s child population—according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.