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.
In order to close the ‘achievement gap’ between students of color and their Anglo counterparts, the state should provide adequate funding for education, curriculum that integrates languages other than English and that is culturally relevant, engagement of students in planning and aligning their education with their future goals; and more meaningful involvement of parents, students, and community leaders in setting school policy.
Those are the common findings of three “achievement gap summits” held in late 2009, and recently posted in a final report on the New Mexico Public Education Department Web site.
“The report supports the High School Redesign efforts taking effect this year, Graduate New Mexico, and the Hispanic Education Act including: required academic and career planning in high school with the new Carve Your Path tool to be piloted this spring; parent and community involvement; increased flexibility through distance learning; and cultural competence training for teachers,” said Education Secretary Veronica C. Garcia said in a statement. “New Mexico is on track with education spending.”
The three summits tackled how to eliminate the disparity in educational success between Anglo students and their Hispanic/Latino, Native American and African American peers. The report contains over 50 recommendations, ranging from ensuring adequate funding to ensuring that schools have an anti-racist learning environment.
Implementation teams have been formed to develop action plans for each of the student groups, according to the report.
