I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
New Mexico’s public schools should get $500 million in federal stimulus aid, the Associated Press (AP) reports. The money is meant to help save education-related jobs and maintain programs for low-income students and students with disabilities.
Of the funds, more than $80 million will go toward Title I programs and $97 million will support special education and related services for students with disabilities, the news service says.
Student performance, meanwhile, appears ready to jump into the limelight because of that infusion of federal cash. That measure must be one of several factors on principal and teacher evaluations for school districts to receive federal stimulus money, The Albuquerque Journal reports.
For those of you who do not subscribe, here’s an excerpt:
In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said he hoped schools would use the money for creative ideas like extending the school day or school year.
“It’s a real chance for states to build upon … current reform efforts or think out of the box on how to use this money as a leverage point and do something different,” Duncan said.
Proposed requirements would force states to report details on teacher quality and evaluation systems, scores on state and national tests to show whether state standards are rigorous enough, and the number of high school graduates who go on to earn college credits.
The state is recommending that districts use the money for instruction and teacher salaries.
The Aztec library unveils a $100,000 digital arts program that has, as its goal, training San Juan County residents how to create animated movies, computer-aided designs, Web pages, films and video games through the use of advanced computer software and high-tech imaging equipment, The Farmington Daily Times reports.
