ALBUQUERQUE TEACHERS FEDERATION EDUCATORS' VOICE PROFESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE UNIONISM

The Planets Are Aligned

VOL 23 • NO 3

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 LEGISLATIVE EDITION

CONTENTS

ATF President’s Message: “The Planets Are Aligned” Legislative Goals Lobbying COPE • Organizing • Around The Nation Events Calendar Announcements I’m hearing from many parents about how teachers are performing heroically in difficult and scary times to provide comfort, humor, President’s Message empathy, and instruction. Teachers are always superheroes. Now they seem to have another gear of awesomeness. They are the best of #WhatUnitesUs.

– Dan Rather @DanRather 12/18/20

The Planets

Are By Ellen Bernstein, ATF President Aligned equity For the past 2 years I’ve been writing my column about the Education Moonshot that our Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, laid out in her 2019 inaugural address to the citizens and legislators of our state. She signaled a recommit- ment to public education, and to the children in our classrooms. We all know that the Pandemic has interrupted our state’s efforts to get to the moon. To be sure, we have made some real progress. We, as public educators and unionists, vow to sustain that progress. I am actually writing this president’s column on December 21st, the winter solstice and, most interestingly, the day Jupiter and Saturn will come within 0.1 degrees of each other, forming the first visible “double planet” in 800 years. The planets are aligned—literally. HOLD DISTRICTS HARMLESS Metaphorically, the planets aligning has a great deal to do with this edition of the newly renamed Educators’ Voice and the 2021 Legislative Session we are writing about. This newsletter is filled with facts and figures, reports and links, that allow each of you, as APS educators, to become a citizen lobbyist around shared goals. Shared goals…that’s where the planets align. In my decades as an advocate for public education I have never seen so many activists and experts agree on what our lawmakers should do to advance public education in our state. School board members, superintendents, principals, unions, the PED, the PTA, and renowned researchers are all focused on the same policies that must be crafted to address: STABILIZE REVENUE • Equity • Holding Districts Harmless From This Year’s Drop In Enrollment • Stabilizing Our Revenue To Keep All School Personnel Employed • Focusing On The Whole Child And Social Emotional Learning • Rethinking And Modernizing HS Credit Requirements • Attracting And Retaining Educators • Local Flexibility • Community Schools • And… Stabilizing Revenue Sources For Public Education! FOCUS ON WHOLE CHILD This political planetary alignment is something very rare. In a “normal” legislative session it might be our unions against the PED or the Superintendent’s Association with different priorities than the educators and all of us with our separate agendas fighting for the attention of significant state representatives and senators. When the planets line up in the night sky it is called a conjunction. In astronomy it means the coincidence of two or more heavenly bodies at the same celestial longitude. It also means a combination of events or circumstances. Likewise, stakeholders who often promote divergent political agendas are conjoining. Consider what Emma García, a specialist in the economics of education and education policy had to say in her blog for the Economic Policy Institute: “With the support from parents and communities, teachers and students are carrying on with their respective endeavors as well as they can. In watching them, we’re all reminded of what learning and teaching entails: the mysteries embedded in each of the subjects, the lectures, the assignments, the projects, the questions, RETHINK/MODERNIZE HS CREDITS among so many others. But we’ve also realized that teaching goes beyond these day-in-and-day-out activities in the countless moments when we saw teachers go beyond the call of duty. The pandemic has opened many parents’ eyes to the role that teachers play as part of the basic fabric of the safety net—through the provision of school-based supports like meals, health clinics, counseling, and even housing. The results of a recent online survey of about 2,000 parents from OnePoll and Osmo show an increase in ATTRACT/RETAIN EDUCATORS appreciation for teachers’ work. The poll found that, “80% have newfound respect for teachers; 77% believe that teachers should be paid more; 69% believe being a teacher is harder than their current job; and 53% will take a greater interest in their child’s education after the stay-at-home mandate concludes.” I have been engaging in some much-needed magical thinking about this new year. I believe respect for all that public education does in and for our democratic society will be resurrected. I believe we’ve elected the right people who will act on that respect by creating supportive economic and educational policies. LOCAL FLEXIBILITY I believe those policies will make a positive difference in the lives of our students and their families. I believe that when the lives of our students and their families are made better, our work will have a more profound impact and that we will feel like we have more professional efficacy. When we have more professional efficacy, we will also feel appreciated. Educators who feel appreciated are less likely to leave the profession and will stand together to make our COMMUNITY SCHOOLS dreams reality. The planets are aligned. In solidarity,

STABILIZE REVENUE SOURCES 2021 ATF + AFT NM GOALS

Responding to the COVID Pandemic Pursuing a Visionary World-Class Public Education System Holding Districts’ and Institutions’ Finances Harmless Our vision We must seize New Mexico’s lawmakers should follow for the future this opportunity North Carolina’s example and enact a of public to achieve a more hold-harmless provision for the next education in equitable, student fo- two to three school years, to maintain New Mexico cused education system funding for school districts by using extends beyond that helps each child to succeed pre-COVID enrollment numbers to our classrooms, school- and achieve. calculate per-pupil funding levels. The yards and places of learning; it We hope lawmakers will take notice state should do the same for district permeates our communities. This of the recent progress we’ve made transportation subsidies and rely on vision, based on the collective wis- and build upon successful initiatives pre-COVID ridership numbers, regard- dom of educators, not only encour- like the expansion of community less of changes in a district’s student ages students to become creators and schools, continuation of the highly population. Lawmakers should also innovators, but also is pragmatic in its successful Grow Your Own Teach- adopt similar protections for higher approach. It acknowledges shared ers Act, and increased investments education institutions to prevent fund- responsibility and the fact our state’s into beginning teacher mentorship ing shortfalls from being passed on to social and economic challenges are and residency programs designed to current or future students. inextricably linked with our desire prepare new teachers well, all parts of Ensuring Students’ Access to to create a robust public education a focus on attracting and retaining the Online Learning system that serves the needs of all teachers our students deserve. All of students, from early education through which are currently providing a solid It is estimated that New Mexico will higher education. framework for continued improvement need to spend an additional $20.9 - $26.2 million to ensure all students can Two years ago, we wrote the preceding When enacted, bold policy, informed by in New Mexico. participate in remote learning over paragraph to frame a set of education educational experts can transform lives. The demands of maintaining schooling policy recommendations addressed to the next 12 months. State lawmakers Students continue to be our focus, during a pandemic has placed stress on New Mexico’s lawmakers. Since then, should enact a spending plan that and will remain our focus during our our profession and our students, but hundreds of thousands have died ensures every household with a student advocacy inside the Roundhouse and we’ve met these challenges head-on. from COVID-19, and millions have lost or educator has access to broadband throughout our shared communities. In transitioning to varying degrees of their jobs. And the impact of COVID-19 internet. But we also know that educators’ remote and hybrid learning throughout and the resulting economic crisis has Targeted Support for Elementary working conditions are students’ the public health crisis, we rediscovered been worse for Black, Indigenous, and Students learning conditions. We produce better and reacknowledged our resiliency as People of Color. Black, Indigenous and outcomes for students and families by a profession. Our work is not done, but We know that online learning has been Hispanic Americans all have COVID-19 establishing and maintaining a support- with such rapid and drastic changes difficult and problematic. There are death rates that are triple or more that ive and rewarding work environment in conditions, we have been freed to concerns some students, especially of White Americans. 60 percent of Black, for educators. return to innovation and imagination. those who have had intermittent or no 55 percent of Native American, and 72 attendance while learning has taken The Martinez/Yazzie v. State of New As you consider the following policy percent of Hispanic households report place on-line, will be at a significant Mexico lawsuit reminds us we must considerations, view them through that facing serious financial hardship during disadvantage compared to their peers confront the state’s failure to provide same lens of innovation and imagina- the pandemic, compared to 46 percent who have reliable internet access and a sufficient and culturally responsive tion. Policies we enact in a partnership for the general population. have been able to attend class con- system of education for all New Mexi- as lawmakers and stakeholders must Today, we are recommitting to our sistently. New Mexico already has a can students. While we made important meet the intersectional demands of vision as we struggle with the triple in- program in place to provide elemen- progress during the last legislative our educational system, but we firmly terrelated crises of COVID-19, racial and tary school students who are at risk of session when lawmakers approved believe through collaboration, conver- ethnic injustice, and a failing economy. falling behind with extra class time and significant new funding targeted to sation, and trust, we can produce out- We call on lawmakers to address the im- support from teachers. The state should address historic underinvestment in our comes which not only meet the needs mediate needs created by these crises, make a temporary modification to the educational system, there is much work of New Mexico’s public school students, but we also urge them to use this time current K5+ Program to provide target- left to be done to repair the systemic but our society as well. to reimagine what may be possible for ed interventions to students during the issues of racism and marginalization of education and for our community on Our education system is meant to serve 25 days before or after the 2021-2022 our Native American, Hispanic, Black, the other side of these crises. the collective good and create the kind school year. English-language learner, and special of society we want to live in and our Quality public education is not needs communities. We must rededi- students deserve. We attract and retain Upgrading School Ventilation Systems achieved by lawmakers pursuing sil- cate ourselves to the pursuit of equity professional educators and support Many New Mexico schools went into ver-bullet or politically expedient solu- for all communities and at all levels. them to create learning environments the pandemic already having poor tions. Real advances in public education COVID-19 has laid bare the inequities in focused on inquiry, equity, discovery indoor air quality, and they likely won’t are made when policy makers engage school funding, along with the long- and creativity. As our society’s needs be able to improve fresh air ventilation in ongoing dialogue with all stakehold- term neglect of our school facilities, evolve, our systems of public education without making time-consuming and ers, recognizing that our understanding our state’s dismal infrastructure, and must grow and evolve so we may to en- costly repairs. New Mexico lawmakers of what makes for a quality system of our underinvestment in early educa- sure our students are competitive and should follow California’s example, public education evolves over time. tion and career-technical education. best prepared for a successful future, and create and fund a School Reopen- Our vision as a union of professional While we include recommendations to whatever pathway they may choose. ing Ventilation and Energy Efficiency educators is rooted in our shared expe- address obvious and immediate needs Verification and Repair Program to riences and wisdom. Informed by the arising out of the pandemic, we call on test, adjust, repair, and replace HVAC communities we live in and the stu- lawmakers to use this opportunity to systems in public schools over the next dents we serve, our policy goals seek to reimagine public education. three years. improve the educational outcomes of students and transform our profession.

Diversity is an asset, not a liability

“Improving education the New Mexico way: An evidence-based approach” Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute (2020). 2021 ATF + AFT NM GOALS

Supporting Early Childhood Education Supporting Young Learners Recent state-spending increases on the Providing Playtime for Pre-K their attention on relevant childcare subsidy program are wel- through Elementary Students math coursework, hands-on come, but they do not go far enough. At least five states have laws requiring CTE electives, business commu- The New Mexico Legislature should recess: Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, nication, and forego an emphasis on make it a priority to provide for univer- and Rhode Island require 20 minutes less relevant math, science, and literary sal early childhood education access for of daily recess for elementary students, coursework. all 3- and 4-year-olds, in a mixed-model while Arizona mandates two recess Graduation requirements should also approach. Universal access to early periods throughout the day. An addi- be aligned with state industry partner childhood education is a smart invest- tional 7 — Iowa, North Carolina, South needs. New Mexico boasts two of the ment, attracts business and ensures a Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Connecticut, nation’s largest labs, as well as tech- better chance for future success later in and Virginia — require between 20 and nology companies like Intel. Students a student’s educational journey. 30 minutes of daily physical activity for should have access to technology cur- Professionalizing the Early elementary schools. Current regulations riculum, so they leave high school pre- CONTACT US Childhood Education Workforce in New Mexico provide that the student pared for the jobs that are currently in lunch period be at least 30 minutes and demand. Unfortunately, our classroom Legislators should commit to invest- lunch recess should not be counted as technology is severely outdated and ALBUQUERQUE TEACHERS FEDERATION ing in New Mexico’s Early Childhood part of the instructional day. However, our state lacks infrastructure to provide Education workforce. To build a quality morning and afternoon recess is count- reliable Internet to many rural areas. 530 Jefferson Street NE workforce of professionals, educators ed as a part instructional time during State investments in classroom tech- Albuquerque, NM 87108 require access to affordable training, the five and one-half (5 and 1/2) hours nology can go a long way in addressing professional development opportuni- (505) 262-2657 per day or 990 hours per year. New equity issues raised in the Yazzie/Marti- ties, and wages commensurate with Mexico lawmakers should enact legis- nez v. State of New Mexico lawsuit. [email protected] their qualifications and responsibilities. lation to require a minimum of three Current graduation requirements have Lawmakers can support the profes- recess periods for children, with time unfortunately forced Districts to move Interschool Mail sionalization of the early childhood in the morning, at lunch, and in the to seven-period schedules. This limits Attention: Ellen Bernstein at ATF Office education workforce by creating and afternoon for pre-K through elementa- student course options, for example, supporting a workforce board made ry-aged students. up of educators and other stakeholders there is no room for a credit recovery that would be charged with developing Eliminating K-2 Testing option during the school year and clearly defined training and competen- New Mexico’s K–2 Assessment System, this most negatively impacts our poor ATFUNION cy standards as well as a professional I-station, which puts early learners and minority students. Seven-period schedules also result in larger home- career ladder. Lawmakers should also through online literacy tests, is sad PRESIDENT develop clear guidelines for Early Child- evidence of this nation’s obsession work loads, stress, and shorter class hood Centers that distinguish them with testing. The data attained from periods, while increasing the burden on Ellen Bernstein from Day Cares, and they should require the I-station testing is skewed to favor teachers who end up with larger class that these Centers be led by administra- students who have greater proficiency sizes and too many classes for which to EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT tors who have knowledge and expertise with the test’s technical components. prepare. Sean Thomas • Eldorado HS in early childhood education. Too much time must be spent teaching Finally, New Mexico’s high school kindergarten students computer skills graduation requirements also limit SECRETARY in order to use the testing properly, like time available for elective course work. Investing in Community Sarah Hager • Cleveland MS Schools drag and drop and symbols represent- A vibrant electives program is just as ed on the screen for things like volume precious as core classes and this must TREASURER Community schools are not a program and sound, rendering the assessments include Career Technical Education. – they’re a strategy for doing schools unhelpful for informing instruction. Across the nation, when students Derek Villanueva • Manzano HS differently. A community schools strat- Teachers should be given professional are provided with choices over their egy organizes and engages a variety of deference to use assessments that are coursework, student effort and learn- MEMBERSHIP & INVOLVEMENT VP stakeholders and resources to provide developmentally appropriate, authen- ing improves. Electives can also serve Dwayne Norris an array of opportunities and path- tic, based in observational data and as effective vehicles for core content that offer the kind of information that ways to life success for students and learning. HIGH SCHOOL VICE PRESIDENT teachers and educational assistants can their families alike. Most importantly, New Mexico should change the current use to plan lessons and differentiate Tanya Kuhnee • Eldorado HS community schools prioritize equity, High School graduation requirements excellence, and engagement – all key to instruction. to allow more flexibility in how students MIDDLE SCHOOL VICE PRESIDENT educational success. State lawmakers should remove the earn credit in different content areas. New Mexico’s community schools are state-required I-station reading assess- For example, the state should: Jason Krosinsky • McKinley MS relatively new, but there are several ments for students in grades K–2. • Adjust the math credit requirement ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VPs fully functioning community schools to three. Adjust math courses to throughout the state through the ABC Rethinking NM’s Graduation reflect real-life skills, allowing for Sonya Romero Autrey • Lew Wallace ES Community School Partnership and with Equity in Mind flexibility to take a math heavy path Loyola Cortinas • Tierra Antiqua ES the Elev8 program. Expanding them based on career choices. Provide to include 3- and 4-year-olds would be Overall, New Mexico’s high school Financial Literacy, basic statistics, and ESSENTIAL & RELATED SERVICES a bold step toward improving public course requirements do not serve the data analysis course options. Offer EDUCATORS VICE PRESIDENT education in the state. educational needs of all students. They math options related to CTE paths Angela Reynolds • NE Diagnostic Center During the 2019 legislative session, also fail to prepare students for ca- (e.g., math for construction careers lawmakers expanded the community reers that exist today. Ideally, students tied in with building design). should be able to choose their own school model in New Mexico by provid- • Allow for science elective classes for ing additional funding and allowances pathways to graduation (much like we do in college) and align their course graduation credit. Culinary Arts, As- VISIT US ONLINE! for implementing community schools tronomy, and Geology should count on a larger scale. In order to maximize work requirements with the skills and knowledge they’ve identified as neces- toward science graduation require- the benefits of early childhood pro- ments. CTE classes and art classes, grams, the state should continue to sary for success after high school. This means, for example, allowing students if structured appropriately, should atfunion.org scale up the support in order to fully overlap with Science credits as well. implement the community school who plan to go into a technical field to model for all early childhood programs replace some of the literature course • Allow flexibility for English course and K-12 school settings. requirements with a technical writing work, provide students with options @atfunion or reading course. While there is a role like technical writing and CTE specific for the NMPED to play in developing English courses. some common course descriptions, • Allow for the replacement of fourth- districts should be allowed to amend year core subject requirements with a or develop their own descriptions. This The Educators Voice is Published Bi-Monthly capstone project that fulfills require- way, a student interested in a career in by The Albuquerque Teachers Federation ments for all content areas. construction would be allowed to focus – AFT NM | AFT | AFL-CIO 2021 ATF + AFT NM GOALS

Salary Goals We must work toward increased total compensation sgnificantly for teachers and other educators until we provide true professional pay commensurate with other profes- sions requiring similar education and skills. We recommend ongoing investment in salaries that will Investing in K-12 Education ensure 4 Salary Tiers in the near future as follows: A new day for public education in Schools and systems that work to build Well-funded schools, where teachers New Mexico requires the Legislature a positive and productive school culture are adequately compensated and suffi- $35K-Paid Residencies to commit the appropriate resources. attend to both the physical and intel- ciently supported, are also better able $45K-Level 1 minimum New Mexico ranked 37th for support of lectual needs of teachers and students. to retain teachers. According to Richard K-12 education at the start of the Great In well-funded schools, students’ basic Ingersoll of the University of Pennsyl- $55K Level 2 minimum Recession in 2008, when the American needs, including safety and social-emo- vania, one of the most cited reasons $65K Level 3 minimum Institutes for Research found that the tional health, are systematically ad- teachers give for leaving the profession state needed to increase funding by dressed; up-to-date and appropriate is that they don’t have the essential Enriched State-Wide 14.5 percent in order to achieve an ade- materials for teaching and learning are resources and proper working environ- quate and equitably financed system of provided; and students learn in envi- ment to do their jobs well. Career Ladder We envision an innovative career public education. By 2018 the state had ronments that promote trust, respect, New Mexico must raise per-student ladder through the weighting of dropped to 42nd, and real spending empowerment and a focus on continu- school funding to the levels required additional roles and responsibilities was 10.5 percent below 2008 levels. In ous learning. to provide every child with a sufficient that teachers assume (e.g.: Extra 2019, average teacher pay was about Well-funded schools are able to meet education. And funding levels should Curricular Leadership, Co-Curric- 23 percent below the national average, the needs of the whole child, with be evaluated and revised at least every ular Leadership positions such with New Mexico ranked at 49th. robust curricula available to all stu- 5 years. Per-student school funding as Departmental Chair, Student It would cost New Mexico about $356 dents, including those who come from levels, the foundation of the State Assistance Team Chair, Mentoring), million just to bring spending back to our poorest communities, English Equalization Guarantee Distribution as well as leadership positions 2008 funding levels for public educa- language learners and children with (SEG), must be used with the number of in school-based reforms such as tion, after accounting for inflation. And special needs. New Mexico must invest students (times the weighted factor) as Restorative Justice Initiatives and 2008 funding levels were already $412.7 to ensure all schools have Fine Arts the multiplier. The promise of sufficient Project-Based Learning. million short of sufficiency, as affirmed and Career Technical Education class- funding should be maintained, with a by the recent Yazzie/Martinez v. State of es for high school students. The state failsafe (perhaps the state’s Permanent By acknowledging the diverse New Mexico ruling. should ensure all schools have the School Fund) that is triggered if funding credentials, talents, and work of resources and tools they need—like a levels fall below what has been defined our New Mexico teaching force, we well-stocked library and the latest in as necessary to provide schools with can better retain highly qualified technology equipment—to implement sufficient funding. It’s time to take the teachers in the profession. Weight- a well-rounded curriculum. politics out of school fund- ing factors would include the ing. When public schools responsibilities, credentials, and have more money, leadership positions that exist in students do better. our public schools and that are, at It’s time to take the politics out of school funding. least in part, required by the State When public schools have more money, students do better. of New Mexico. Including a factor for greater years of service, addi- tional credentials, and for move- Attracting and Retaining Educators ment through the 3-Tier system of licensure enhances our teacher The ability to attract and retain ex- Our policy recommendations include New Mexico legislators should continue retention efforts and will address cellent educators is one of the most proposals that start with high school to monitor the newly created and im- the compression issues that have important drivers of a well-function- students, providing them with revitalized plemented teacher evaluation plan for resulted from adding money pri- ing education system – a system that career and technical education programs its continued fairness and informative marily to the base of each tier. We must prepare diverse students with that include expanding Educators Rising value, and to ensure the results of this call this system a Teacher Weighted complex needs to participate in today’s and a “grow your own” program currently collaborative and stakeholder-involved Formula. knowledge-driven economy. We need in many high schools across the state. process are preserved. Legislators a continuum of supports designed to The policy recommendations then follow should also fully fund and grow the attract and retain teachers to our state. a teacher to college and throughout following programs which experienced Based on research from world-class their career. The continuum includes: reductions during the June 2020 Spe- for the Public Education $5 Million systems across the globe, AFT NM has Pre-Service cial Session: Department Education Reform Fund proposed “A Systematic Approach to A rigorous college preparation program for elementary physical for a pilot extended summer learning Attract and Retain High Quality Educa- $6 Million with more clinical practice time and loan education programs; $40 million for K-5 program in historically defined “Indian tors in New Mexico Through a Contin- forgiveness for service. Plus programs impacted” school districts or charter uum of Professional Support.” These schools (including early childhood); ideas have been presented to the New Teacher Residencies for mentorship A paid, alternative licensure route for $4.2 Million for the Public Edu- Mexico Public Education Department, stipends; $4.5 Million Legislative Finance Committee, Legis- pre- and post-baccalaureate students. cation Department Education Reform for early literacy inter- lative Education Study Committee, and $2 Million Fund for instructional materials; Mentoring ventions; the Albuquerque Public Schools Board Increased funding for beginning teacher for the Public Edu- of Education. While legislators adopted mentoring, as per NM state law. for planned school $2.9 Million $92.6 Million cation Department Education Reform many of our recommendations, some personnel salary raises; Induction Fund for school improvement grants; of the progress made was interrupted Continued support in years 2-5, if need- for base SEG appro- by the COVID crisis, and the subsequent $32.4 Million for the Public Education ed. priation; $1 Million impact on the state’s budget. Working Department Education Reform Fund for to attract and retain quality educators, Resources for the Public Educa- teacher residencies; and, $8 Million including nurses and support staff, Funding that is sufficient and consistent. tion Department Education Reform to grow and expand should be a goal of all education stake- Professional Development Fund for culturally and linguistically $1eligibility Million of the Grow Your Own Teach- holders. Site-based, job-embedded, and ongoing. appropriate instructional materials and ers Act to include all eligible classified curriculum; educators, and create a similar pathway Teacher Evaluation for health assistants pursuing a degree Fair and informative teacher evaluations. in nursing. Competitive Salaries An enriched state-wide career ladder.

“Teacher retention is enhanced both by supporting beginning teachers with strong mentoring and other supports when they enter the profession and by providing veteran teachers with opportunities to share their expertise and grow in the profession.” “Improving education the New Mexico way: An evidence-based approach” Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute (2020). 2021 ATF + AFT NM GOALS

Supporting Culturally Responsive and Anti-Racist Work in New Mexico’s Classrooms

Anti-racism is the “active process of New Mexico’s lawmakers should INCLUDE historically relevant ways FOCUS on intersectional justice by identifying and eliminating racism support teachers who incorporate of learning to meaningfully engage acknowledging social, educational, by changing systems, organizational anti-racist lessons into their curriculum students (e.g., storytelling, call and economic and political ways in which structures, policies and practices and and who address issues of power and response, cultural arts, etc.), incorporat- identity-based systems of oppression attitudes, so that power is redistributed privilege embedded in our educational ing historical and modern role models and privilege connect, overlap, and and shared equitably.” Anti-racist work systems. Specifically, state legislators of otherwise marginalized people and influence one another. means acknowledging that racist be- should protect teachers from threats issues in the American experience, An anti-racism framework also relies liefs and structures are of censorship and reframing dominant narratives on instructional materials, fiction and pervasive in all aspects “Anti-racist work means or sanction for about race, culture, language, sexuality, non-fiction texts, in which students of our lives – from teaching the gender, etc., in order to center mar- acknowledging that racist in New Mexico can see themselves. education to housing 1619 Project, ginalized experiences (e.g., a story of a Textbook companies do not typically to climate change – beliefs and structures or for teaching marginalized group should not be seen provide anti-racist materials. And the and then actively doing about the ways as an “addition” to a story, but rather, are pervasive in all as- materials that school districts purchase work to tear down in which Black, the marginalized story should be at the from New Mexico’s Public Education those beliefs and struc- pects of our lives – from Hispanic, or center of learning). Department-approved list of textbooks tures. Schools across Indigenous education to housing to DEVELOP students’ critical conscious- don’t include rich literature in multiple the nation are commit- peoples actively ness. The first step in this process is languages, from black, brown, and na- ting to the all-import- climate change – and then resisted their revisiting and reclaiming identity and tive authors; that challenge racism and ant work of anti-racism. oppression, actively doing work to also encompasses questioning objec- shine a spotlight on systemic injustice; Equitable education marginaliza- tivity and emphasizing principles of or that correct a whitewashed historical efforts intentionally tear down those beliefs tion and the self-determination, social justice, hope, narrative and offer a vision for a more replace the historically manifestation equity, healing and love. equal future. dominant narrative and structures.” of oppression with culturally responsive teaching and through historic and existing institu- CREATE caring academic environments New Mexico legislators should amend curriculum that is inclusive of other tional structures. New Mexico lawmak- in which educators and students de- the section of the public school code to racial groups’ history, contributions, and ers should also empower educators to velop mutual respect, develop mutual expand the definition of “instructional insights. confront bigotry and racism by making trust and realize the humanity in one material” to include “original source grant funds available for teachers and another. material from primary sources” and The framework of anti-racism supports “content resources, excluding electron- cultural responsiveness as a much school districts that seek to incorporate ENGAGE in community responsiveness anti-racist lessons into their curriculum. (e.g., youth participatory action re- ic devices and hardware that support deeper introspection of instructional digital learning formats and educational practices in order to ensure that teach- Creating a culturally responsive class- search that allows students to become critical action researchers, develop programs.” This change would provide ers are not simply teaching content, but room also means supporting ethnic schools more flexibility in spending teaching students in ways that respect, studies programs that embed educa- empathy and understanding for them- selves and others, and focus on improv- instructional material funds by eliminat- promote, and incorporate diverse ways tional practices that: ing the requirement that schools must of thinking, learning, and communicat- ing social conditions for themselves and SITUATE each student’s family, com- their communities). use 50 percent of their annual instruc- ing. As such, in all classrooms we must munity, knowledge and culture at the tional material allocations on materials support a critical and interdisciplinary center of learning. from the state approved list. study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity with a focus on the experiences and UTILIZE culturally relevant texts, focus- perspectives of people of color and ad- ing on the resiliency of marginalized “The combined effects on student learning communities (as opposed to victimiza- dress the social, economic, and political gains of having a teacher who is well-prepared, ways in which identity-based systems of tion), and openly discussing issues of experienced, and National Board certified is greater than oppression and privilege connect. power and privilege as they relate to texts, historical events, current events, the combined effects of race and parent education.” statistics, etc. “Improving education the New Mexico way: An evidence-based approach” Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute (2020). 2021 ATF + AFT NM GOALS

Staffing Schools for Students Needs When teachers, school employees, students and public school advocates walked picket lines together through- out 2018 and 2019, high on their list of demands was funding for more support staff focused on students’ well-being. We must staff schools based on the needs of the whole child. Every pre-K-12 school should have a Mental Health Team comprised of the following staff, each of whom play a distinct and important role in providing comple- mentary mental health supports to students: Supporting Professional School Related Personnel Behavior Intervention Specialists have the most regular direct contact Early Education, K-12, and Higher Providing Pay Differentials for with students. They provide behavior- Education Classified Staff Wages Educational Assistants When al supports for students and sup- New Mexico should provide a mini- Working as Substitutes port re-entry into the classroom by mum wage of $16 per hour and a $5- to Educational Assistants provide a vital staffing and training, and appropriate assisting students in assessing their $6-per-hour longevity wage increase role in classrooms, assisting with in- workplace safety plans, are a must for behavior. for all education employees (including struction and classroom management, school support staff. Our schools must transportation employees with private providing personal support to students Licensed School Counselors remain safe and healthy places for stu- contractors) and provide for cost-of- and teachers, and building strong rela- work directly with students and dents and staff to learn and work. living adjustments, while continuing tionships with parents in the course of families to support mental wellness New Mexico legislators should act on to strive toward a living wage for all their work. When there are not enough through classroom lessons for stu- legislation introduced in 2019 that educational employees. These addition- teachers, educational assistants are also dents, evidence-based small group identified post-traumatic stress disorder al increases (both living wage increases called upon to serve as substitutes. New counseling, and individual coun- as a condition covered under workers’ and longevity raises) would combat the Mexico already has 571 teacher va- seling. Counselors also assist in the compensation. salary compaction that occurred during cancies, and in the midst of the COVID coordination of post-treatment plans the Martinez administration, and in- pandemic, educational assistants are Ensuring Safe Buses for students and refer students for crease contributions to the New Mexico being called on to serve as substitutes school or community-based mental New Mexico should change the statute Educational Retirement Fund. even more frequently. As they take on health support. that makes air conditioning in school more classroom duties in the absence buses optional, replacing it with Licensed School Social Workers Creating Career Pathways for of teachers, they are being cross-trained language that mandates all new and have special expertise in understand- Classified Staff and are preparing lesson plans. Howev- existing buses be equipped with air ing family and community systems The New Mexico Legislature adopted a er, educational assistants are taking on conditioning. Additionally, the School and linking students and their Joint Resolution in 2020 directing the the role of substitute teacher without Transportation Bureau should develop a families with communi- Higher Education Department, the being compensated, often while work- list of buses that are aging out in order ty services essential to Public Education Department, and ing side-by-side with other higher paid to prioritize fleet and district needs. student success. Licensed the Workforce Solutions Depart- substitutes. School Social Workers ment to convene a working group Funding to Ensure Every Bus Educational assistants should be pro- assigned to Special Ed- to study the feasibility of develop- with a Special Needs Student vided a pay differential for work time ucation work specifically ing a career pathway for classified has a Bus Attendant spent serving as a classroom substitute. with students who have an staff. While the COVID pandemic School support staff members who are Individualized Education Pro- has delayed that working group from Providing Safe/Secure Classrooms entrusted with managing transporta- gram (IEP) to meet their identified convening, lawmakers should provide Paraprofessionals often operate at a tion for students with special needs face needs. guidance and resources to ensure this heightened level of vigilance to guaran- several demands. They must operate work moves forward. Licensed School Psychologists tee their and their students’ safety, and special equipment, manage student be- apply expertise in mental health, Growing Our Own are required to intervene in situations havior, administer health care insofar as they are qualified, and serve as seating learning, and behavior to help During the 2019 legislative session, where students and staff may be at specialists in positioning and securing children and youth succeed aca- lawmakers created a Grow Your Own risk of harm or injury. A study of 8,000 adaptive and assistive devices and demically, socially, behaviorally, and program that provides grants to schools school staff workers’ compensation occupants. Bus drivers by themselves emotionally. School Psychologists to provide for paraprofessional career claims in Minnesota found that special cannot be expected to assist with stu- partner with families, teachers, school development. New Mexico lawmakers education assistants are most at risk dent needs and manage the behavior administrators, and other profession- should expand on this program by for “student-related injuries” and have of children while driving a bus. als to help create safe, healthy, and providing sufficient funding to make the highest rate of workers’ compensa- supportive learning environments it more widely available. New Mex- tion claims (five for every 100 full-time New Mexico should provide sufficient that strengthen connections be- ico should also create a scholarship employees) for such injuries, compared funding to ensure a bus attendant for tween home, school, and the com- fund for educators in early childhood with all other school personnel. Proper every bus with a rider who has special munity. settings and classified educational em- needs. Licensed School Nurses ployees in K-12 and higher education provide a comprehensive approach settings. Education is expensive, and as to preventing and addressing student lower-wage workers, early education health problems that may interfere through higher education classified with learning. The school nurse col- staff often cannot afford additional laborates with school staff, students’ schooling without taking out risky families, and community members to loans and getting into deep debt. keep students safe at school, healthy, and ready to learn.

“Beginning teachers who receive a comprehensive set of induction supports are twice as likely to stay in teaching as those who do not receive this support.” “Improving education the New Mexico way: An evidence-based approach” Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute (2020). 2021 ATF + AFT NM GOALS

Investing in Higher Education Modernizing the Educational New Mexico’s higher education system has also felt the pinch of state cuts since the Great Recession. Inflation adjusted state support per full time equivalent (FTE) student has declined by 23 percent. At the same time, inflation adjusted tuition costs have Retirement Board increased by 54 percent for four-year colleges and 36 percent for two-year colleges since 2008. The state saw the 28th-highest State public pension funds are a increase in the cost of a two-year degree during that time period. It is time we reinvest in higher education, for the benefit of students and all higher education employees. central component of retirement security for educators and classified Student Loan Bill of Rights Lottery Scholarship Program Ensure Academic Freedom staff, and educator and classified Student debt is an anchor weighing Only 35 percent of young adults ages New Mexico legislators should enact staff retirement security is best down the economic aspirations of col- 25 to 34 in the state have an associ- a higher education personnel act that served when plan beneficiaries lege graduates. ate degree or higher. That’s the sev- supports the three academic processes participate in pension fund gover- Nationally, total student debt has enth-lowest higher education attain- that ensure academic freedom at our nance. Nearly all state pension ballooned to almost $1.7 trillion. In New ment rate of any state. A 2019 analysis colleges and universities. A higher edu- fund governing boards include Mexico, 45 percent of college graduates by New Mexico Voices for Children cation personnel act should also: some representation from the Student debt is an anchor weighing suggests one reason for this; our state • Ensure faculty control of curriculum fund’s beneficiary membership, down the economic aspirations of col- gives very little of its financial aid based and instructional materials. and most include trustees who are on student need—31 percent, com- lege graduates. elected by beneficiaries, usually pared with a national average of 76 • Structure the state’s higher education from the constituency they rep- Nationally, total student debt has percent. New Mexico working families funding formula so that it provides ballooned to almost $1.7 trillion. In New have some of the highest needs in the sufficient funding for faculty and resent. New Mexico’s Educational Mexico, 45 percent of college gradu- country. Just over half of New Mexico higher education staff salary and Retirement Board should strive for ates in 2019 had student loan debt benefit adjustments to ensure equity a membership best representing and their average student debt was across institutions. the active educational participants “ONLY 35 PERCENT OF YOUNG ADULTS $20,991. While the average student and recipients of the fund. AGES 25 - 34 IN New Mexico HAVE • Extend just cause protections to all debt burden for graduates in 2019 employees. was the second lowest for all U.S. AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE OR HIGHER.” State law provides the NMERB • Provide for a base rate of pay of be governed by a 7-member states, all New Mexicans now owe more children under age 18 live in poverty. $5,000/credit hour for adjuncts and than $6.8 billion in student debt. Of all The state’s Lottery Scholarship, the board of trustees with 4 members non-tenured faculty, and $16/hour for student loan borrowers, more than 1 largest source of state aid to students, who are political appointees, and higher education support staff. out of every 5 are severely delinquent is not only poorly targeted to students 3 members who are plan partici- on their debt and nearly a quarter of all with the greatest needs, the Lottery • Establish preference for adjuncts pants elected by their professional borrowers living in rural New Mexico Scholarship has gone from covering when full-tenured faculty positions education organizations to repre- are severely delinquent. New Mexico 100 percent of tuition to covering about become available. sent retirement plan participants. ranks eighth among the states with the 40 percent. This disproportionally hurts • Assist adjuncts and part-time com- Contrast that with the state’s Public highest percentage of delinquent debt. low-income students. munity college instructors in gaining Employees Retirement Association New Mexico’s lawmakers should follow The New Mexico Legislature should eligibility for the federal Public Ser- which is governed by a 12-member the example of other states and adopt a target more state financial aid to the vice Loan Forgiveness program. board with 2 politically appointed Student Loan Bill of Rights that requires students who most need it by making Supporting Adjuncts members and 10 board members licensing and oversight of student loan the Lottery Scholarship need-based and elected by organizations represent- servicers in order to end the worst All members of a school’s faculty, full having it fully cover tuition for low-in- ing plan participants. abuses. come students. time and adjunct, should be treated with fairness and respect. However, ac- New Mexico legislators should take Debt Cancellation and Loan Supporting Higher Education cording to a report from the American action to modernize and expand Forgiveness Faculty and Staff Federation of Teachers, nearly 25 per- the composition of the Education- Teaching is a public service, and we Academic freedom ensures that col- cent of adjunct faculty members rely on al Retirement Board to include should be working toward attracting leges and universities are “safe havens” public assistance, and 40 percent strug- representation from the American and recruiting the best candidates and gle to cover basic household expenses. for inquiry, places where students and Federation of Teachers New Mexico, retaining veteran educators. Whether scholars can challenge the convention- This is significant, as three-quarters of to ensure that the NMERB is truly it is through our colleges of education al wisdom of any field—art, science, college faculty in the nation are contin- representative of the fund’s benefi- or a grow-our-own model, lawmakers politics or others. It is grounded on gent—part-time/adjunct or full-time should consider how costs remain a the notion that the free exchange of temps. Not only do they receive low pay ciary membership. barrier to entry into the teaching pro- ideas on campus is essential to good and no benefits, they also struggle with fession, and how debt burdens contrib- education. Academic freedom means unpredictable workloads. Research has ute to the desire to leave teaching. faculty members determine the college demonstrated that better support for For new educators, loan forgiveness curriculum, course content, teaching, contingent faculty has a positive impact can be a way to attract educators into student evaluation, and the conduct of on student success. New Mexico can the profession, along with incentives scholarly inquiry. help increase the quality of public high- for teaching in hard-to-staff locations or er education by taking steps to support subject areas. For current and veteran contingent faculty and to stabilize the teachers, New Mexico has the ability to instructional corps at state schools. effectively cancel the debt of certain ed- ucators by adopting policies that direct New Mexico to stop collection on any loans created under the 1965 Federal Family Education Loan Program. STUDENT DEBT IS AN ANCHOR WEIGHING DOWN THE ECONOMIC ASPIRATIONS OF COLLEGE GRADUATES. 2021 ATF + AFT NM GOALS

“But tax policy – like so many other public policies – has not always been used to advance equity. Instead, it has deepened racial inequities in both the past and present. And although New Mexico’s tax code is not ground- ed in racial hostility, many of the Taxing Those Most Able to Pay to Fund Education state’s policies still perpetuate these inequities. It does this by: COVID-19 has triggered an economic crisis both High Earner Tax Gross Receipts Tax providing tax cuts that favor here in New Mexico and nationwide. We are fac- wealth – owned overwhelming- In 2003, lawmakers reduced the personal income The state’s tax code includes dozens of exemptions ly by white households – over ing significant revenue losses while the demand tax rate for New Mexico’s highest income earners to the gross receipts tax that reduce revenues by the hard-earned wages of New for healthcare, educational supports, housing, by almost half – from 8.2 percent to 4.9 percent. hundreds of millions of dollars. To make up the Mexicans; giving more generous and unemployment assistance is increasing. During the 2019 legislative session, legislators revenue lost to these exemptions, state and local hand-outs to big corporations and the well-connected than Declining revenues have already forced cuts to raised the top tax rate to 5.9%. That important governments have had to raise gross receipts tax K-12 and higher education spending. These cuts families struggling financially; change will start to balance the tax code and rates on everyone else. These increases shift the and limiting tax revenue at the threaten the important progress state leaders raise significant new revenue. Lawmakers can do tax burden to lower-income communities and expense of quality classrooms were making to return spending back to their more to support our schools and make our tax make the state more reliant on gross receipts taxes and other critical public services pre-2008 recession levels. code more equitable by raising the top tax rate, from the oil and gas industry. The state should re- that build strong communities… As the current economic downturn threatens to adding new top brackets to the tax code with view these exemptions to determine whether they …Advancing racial equity drain New Mexico’s state and local budgets of higher tax rates, and/or by enacting a surtax on contribute to job creation and economic growth, through tax policy is an invest- needed tax revenue, New Mexico can avoid mass income over $1 million and targeting the revenue and rescind those that don’t. ment in the lives and future of all children. And it’s particularly layoffs, steep cuts in education, healthcare, and to fund education. We estimate that New Mexi- Tax Expenditures other public services, and a downward spiral in co’s lawmakers could raise more than $45 million important in New Mexico A recent Legislative Finance Committee analysis of because 76% of our children are the state’s economy, by levying taxes on house- if they were to levy a 4 percent surtax on income 2018 tax expenditures identified more than 100 children of color.” holds, businesses, and sectors of the economy over $1 million. tax deductions, exemptions and credits that drain that continue to have high incomes and generate “Tax Policy: A Powerful Tool to Capital Gains Tax the state’s budget of more than a billion dollars. Advance Racial Equity in New Mexico” healthy profits even in the midst of an economic New Mexico Voices for Children New Mexico allows taxpayers to deduct 40 As with the gross receipts tax exemptions we’ve crisis. COVID’s economic pain is not universal. Paige Knight, MPP • December 2020 percent of their capital gains income from their already mentioned, lawmakers should review Firms that provide what have become essential state taxes. The result of this is that those who these tax breaks and rescind those that privilege services during the pandemic - cloud-based derive income from investments pay a lower tax some taxpayers over others or fail to contribute to technologies, online retail, drug research, tele- rate than those who derive their income from job creation and economic growth. medicine, and video-conferencing - are thriving. salaries and wages. This largely benefits the Moreover, the nation’s wealthiest citizens have Fed Opportunity Zone Capital highest-income earners, with 88% of the value of seen their wealth increase by $931 billion since Gains Tax Breaks the capital gains deduction going to 13% of New the start of the pandemic. The 2017 federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Digital Services Tax Mexicans, those who earn more than $100,000. new capital gains tax breaks for investments in In 2019, France enacted a digital services tax of The current crisis also highlights the need An analysis by New Mexico Voices for Children designated “Opportunity Zones.” Billed as a job 3 percent on revenue from the sale of user data, to diversify our revenue sources. Oil and gas estimates that this deduction costs the state creation strategy for low-income urban areas, the digital advertisements, and online platforms revenue can account for as much as 25 percent about $40 million every year. of total general fund revenue. At the same time, zones require no community benefits such as jobs run by companies like Amazon, Apple, Google Tax on High Value Properties prices for New Mexico’s oil and gas have been created, good wages and benefits, or affordable and Facebook. Following the French example, declining by an average of 44 percent since Lawmakers could follow the example of states housing. Not long after it was enacted, wealthy, legislators in Maryland and Nebraska introduced 2014. Reporting by the Center on Budget and and local governments that have adopted well-connected investors began exploiting the similar taxes in 2020. The Maryland bill would Policy Priorities on COVID-related state revenue progressive property taxes to make property tax break, using it to build high-end hotels and have taxed revenue derived from digital advertis- shortfalls has consistently shown higher revenue taxes fairer, and to make the wealthy pay more. apartment buildings, or warehouses and storage ing services at a rate of between 2.5-10 percent. loss projections for states most reliant on oil and A state-level real estate transfer tax is one ap- gas revenues. proach. For example, New York levies a flat tax on advancing racial equity through tax policy is an the sale of properties, with an additional tax of 1 investment in the lives and future of all children. Finally, New Mexico was ranked as the 19th percent of the property’s sale value for residences And it’s particularly important in New Mexico least equitable state because of the tax burden valued at $1 million or more. The District of because 765 of our children are children of color. we place on low- and middle-income earners Columbia levies a transfer tax that is based on a facilities that employ only a small number of peo- The Nebraska bill would have added retail sales compared to the rich. In our state, the lowest-in- property’s sale value, with a higher rate for prop- ple. New Mexico should decouple from the federal of digital advertisements to the definition of come earners spend about 10.6 percent of their erties worth more than $400,000. New Mexico opportunity zone tax breaks, otherwise, we would gross receipts for Nebraska sales tax purposes. income on taxes, while the wealthy spend about could also consider adopting a state property tax end up subsidizing these investments. New Mexico should explore taxes on digital 6 percent. Higher tax rates on high incomes can and levy an annual property tax on high-value services provided by Amazon, Apple, Google and raise significant revenue to fund our schools, Tax Havens in Combined Reporting homes and use the revenue to fund education. Facebook as these firms have seen their profits while also making our tax code more fair. Lawmakers enacted important corporate income Rhode Island’s Governor proposed such a tax in soar during the pandemic. tax reform in 2019 when they adopted mandatory New Mexico needs diversified, reliable revenue 2015 in the form of a surcharge on second homes Land Grant Permanent Fund sources that are fair for middle- and low-income unitary combined reporting. However, like most worth more than $1 million. The Land Grant Permanent Fund, also known residents. Some options include: states, New Mexico only requires corporations Inheritance Tax to combine profits from parent and subsidiary as the Permanent School Fund, is funded by The top 0.1 percent of the U.S. population holds companies formed in the U.S. This means that revenue from leases and royalties on oil and 20 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the corporations can form subsidiaries in tax haven gas and returns on invested capital, and had a bottom 90 percent own about 25 percent. This countries to hide their profits from taxation. New balance of almost $18 billion in the spring of concentration of wealth means that millions of Mexico should follow the example of Alaska, Con- 2020. Lawmakers should tap into this fund to families are held back, with fewer opportunities necticut, the District of Columbia, Montana, Rhode fill the COVID-induced budget hole. After we get to advance. A tax on inherited wealth, with Island, and West Virginia by requiring corporations through this current crisis, lawmakers should the revenue used to fund education, can create to also combine profits from subsidiaries formed in vote to refer a constitutional amendment to New more broadly shared prosperity. Restoring New a foreign tax haven. Mexico voters that would allow for distribution of LGPF revenues to fund education. Mexico’s tax on very large estates, with a $1 Minimum Tax on Corporations million exemption, would generate $70 million and Passthrough Entities Note: Many of the combined goals for ATF and AFTNM are based in revenue; with a $3.5 million exemption, an es- on the Albuquerque Teachers Federation’s priorities for the 2021 With so many tax deductions, exemptions and Legislative Session entitled Post-Pandemic Public Education: Equity tate tax would generate $50 million. New Mexico credits, corporations can end up paying little to no & Excellence and the subsequent November/December Teachers’ could opt instead to impose an inheritance tax Voice of the same title. taxes. And passthrough entities like S Corpora- on the heirs of an estate. A state inheritance tax tions, partnerships, and limited liability companies could be structured as an income tax, ensuring are not subject to corporate income taxes at all. that wealthy heirs pay a higher tax rate on their Lawmakers should consider imposing a minimum inheritances than those of lesser means. tax on New Mexico corporations and passthrough entities to ensure that all of them contribute to New Mexico’s prosperity. “In New Mexico, the goal should be to enable all schools with at least 80% students from low-income families to become community schools that provide integrated supports and expanded learning to meet the n ew mex i c o extraordinary needs of children and families in those settings.” EDUCATION PARTNERS Improving education the New Mexico way: An evidence-based approach A Coalition of Professional Education Organizations Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute (2020). AFT New Mexico • Albuquerque Teachers Federation NEA-New Mexico • New Mexico Coalition of Education Leaders New Mexico PTA • New Mexico School Boards Association

NM Education Partners 2021 Goals: Recovery and Resilience

1. SEG Sufficiency and Stability Funding : Strategies for meeting the needs Overall, our course requirements do not prepare students for Stability is essential as we continue to strive for systemic equity in Community Schools our public schools. The COVID 19 pandemic has created significant of students and families are enhanced as partnerships are built careers that exist today and do not allow the flexibility needed to new costs for districts: from purchasing expensive protective gear between schools and community-based organizations. serve all students. Ideally, future students should be able to choose for staff and delivering meals directly to students who aren’t in : This law was clearly pathways to graduation (much like we do in college). This way, the Attendance for Success Act school, to investing in computer equipment and internet hot spots not designed to accommodate the current challenges. We are focus is on skills and relevant knowledge based on student choice. to ensure students can access online learning, all while districts are therefore requesting that the implementation of the act be delayed. For example, in an area like English, students who plan to go into still coping with decades of disinvestment in its schools. The state Otherwise, schools will be forced to create attendance plans and a technical field could take a technical writing and reading course must continue to lay the groundwork for an equitable education set attendance improvement targets for an exorbitant percentage rather than the current requirement of literature courses for four system. of students, whose attendance issues were no fault of their own years. Many districts have experienced shrinking student enrollment this and may be attributable to the various remote and hybrid learning • RETHINK AND MODERNIZE – It is time to rethink and year as some parents opt to homeschool or to temporarily transfer models, parent choices, and more. modernize our current HS credit requirements so that future their children out of state. Some students are missing due to lack students have the ability to choose a personalized pathway in eleventh and twelfth grade. High school students deserve more of connectivity or family struggles. The state’s most vulnerable 3. Social Emotional Learning children have experienced the worst effects of school closure. Policy-makers and educators alike have a growing awareness of options especially when it comes to electives and CTE programs. our state’s Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) statistics and how College and career success for New Mexico’s High Schools should District costs continue to rise even as enrollment shrinks, but there the resulting toxic levels of stress impact learning for a significant be based on a course-taking plan grounded in equity, student are indicators that enrollment declines are only temporary, making number of students. Even before the pandemic there was consensus choice and diverse pathways to graduation. it imperative that New Mexico’s lawmakers ensure operational and that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) must be infused into all that transportation funding stability. we do in public schools. The pandemic has exponentially multiplied Educator Recruitment, • HOLD HARMLESS – We must enact a temporary provision (hold this need. 5. harmless) in order to offset the current and inevitable future Retention and Preparation Students are whole beings, growing academically, physically, New Mexico has an aging educator workforce and our ability to enrollment fluctuations. This measure must account for historical socially, and emotionally. The more we focus on the whole child, attract and retain educators across the state must be of the highest trends based on at least a 3-year average for the next 2 to 3 fiscal the more students learn and the healthier they will be. ACEs can be priority. NM lawmakers made significant investments in programs years, as well as controlling for future growth units. We must substantially buffered by stable and supportive relationships with and salaries intended to do just that in the regular 2020 session. preserve public funding for public schools. caregivers. Schools and educators can also play a critical role by Unfortunately, some of those essential programs were cut during • FUND – Funding for current programs, additional resources, promoting these kinds of caring relationships, as well as social and the Special Session. We must do all we can this year, and in future as well as flexibility for new mandates and requirements are emotional skills, that support healthy youth development for all years, to stabilize our revenue sources and restore the cuts that essential to ensure that every school system provides each New students; removing punitive disciplinary practices; and supporting were made to programs that support attracting and retaining the Mexico student an equal opportunity to succeed. the physical and mental health needs of students. educators our students need and deserve. We must not lose sight • PROTECT RESERVES – It is also critically important that we • FLEXIBILITY –The flexibility to free schools from counting con- on this goal. In priority order we must: protect operational reserves to help districts navigate unforeseen tent minutes to ensuring students are ready to learn the content • KEEP all school personnel employed challenges. is especially important now. Essential in this effort is staffing • PARTNER with LEAs in covering any increases to the employer • PROTECT SEG – Finally, any reduction in the credits for impact schools based on the needs of the whole child. Every pre-K-12 and employee cost of equitable health care for school personnel aid or other local revenue sources will necessarily affect the SEG. school should have a team of specialists to address student • INVEST as we can, as much as we can, in salaries for all school The SEG should be protected, so that no district’s SEG is reduced mental health. Depending upon local needs, such teams may be personnel with the goal of becoming regionally competitive. as a result of changes to credits in the funding formula. comprised of counselors, nurses, social workers, school psycholo- gists and/or behavior intervention specialists, each of whom play In addition, we recommend: a distinct and important role in providing complimentary mental • SUFFICIENT FUNDING for the same salaries for all counselors, 2. Flexibility to Address health supports to students. Local Needs and Issues of Equity social workers, therapists and nurses Administrators, educators and families are looking forward to • ANALYSIS –Our state must begin an analysis of current • FUNDING FOR STAFFING efforts in each district to attract and taking advantage of the investment our state has made in addi- staffing in our schools and the cost of meeting national staffing retain social workers, counselors, school psychologists, and nurs- tional learning time. Both the Extended Learning Time and K-5+ standards—working toward the goal of staffing schools for the es in every school, as needed, to mitigate the effects of trauma programs will help us to address historic student needs that have needs of students. and poverty among our students been exacerbated by the pandemic. • A LIVING WAGE for our EAs, secretaries, clerks, cafeteria staff, : While some Supporting Current and Extended Learning Time Program 4. custodians, and bus drivers. districts can best address students’ needs with 10 additional days Future High Schools Graduates of schools, others feel the flexibility to add hours instead of days Our current high school students need a focus on, and some flexi- The Education Partners also support: will best support their students, especially those whose needs have bility with, the approved demonstration of competency needed for • INITIATIVES to enhance New Mexico’s educator preparation increased as a result of the pandemic. Diverse yet successful models graduation, especially for the classes of 2021 & 2022. NM is current- programs, including extended clinical experiences ly supporting capstone projects as a demonstration of competency include the “Genius Hour” program offered by Albuquerque Public • FULLY FUNDING and expanding Grow Your Own Teachers, for graduation. Capstone projects are described as a “culminating Schools, as well as locally modified ELTP programs in Deming Public scholarships and loan repayment programs to attract young and activity” that students complete in their senior year that “synthe- Schools and Cuba Independent Schools. second career people into the teaching of STE(A)M, Citizenship, sizes classroom study and real-world perspective” through a project : We know that online learning has been difficult and prob- Special Education, Bilingual and Indian Education, and other K-5+ that focuses on a student’s personal interest.” Some additional areas lematic. There are concerns some students, especially those who programs to prepare New Mexicans for careers in education. that will support current high school students to graduate are a have had intermittent or no attendance while learning has taken temporary re-calculation of graduation rates to allow extended place on-line, will be at a significant disadvantage compared to time for required course completion and allowing GED completers their peers who have reliable internet access and have been able to to count as graduates. attend class consistently. Our K-5+ Program is perfectly situated to “…Educational leaders say In 2007 the NM Legislature passed HB 584, High School Redesign. provide targeted elementary school students with extra class time the short-term future of and support. HB 584 increased requirements for graduation to three credits in mathematics (one must be equivalent to Algebra II) and at least New Mexico’s public schools • MODIFICATION –The state should make a temporary modification to the current K-5+ Program requirements in order for districts to provide one unit as advanced placement, dual credit, or one distance- revolves around two words: support for specific elementary students who experienced attendance learning course. The New Mexico PED added a year of math to issues during remote and/or hybrid learning and provide them with the requirements in 2009 and a half-year of Health in 2013. hold–Santa Fe New harmless” Mexican, Dec 17, 2020 in-person schooling during the 25 days before, or after, the 2021-2022 The current NM requirement for graduation is 24 credits. school year. NM Public Education Department 2021 Legislative Goals

Because the Secretary of Public Education is an appointed member of the Governor’s cabinet, the agency’s goals reflect the priorities of the Executive. Unlike the not-too- distant past, the PED’s goals have a great deal in common with our unions and reflect a respect for educators, the work we all do, and the students we serve. This general outline of the PED’s aspirations for the 2021 Legislative Session have been compiled from public presentations made by Secretary of Education Dr. Ryan Stewart to the NM School Boards Association and the Legislative Finance Committee. The outline does not do justice to the details in the presentations, so if you are interested, you can find them here on our website. The Learning Policy Institute The ‘What’ in PED’s The ‘How’ in PED’s Legislative Goals Legislative Goals The Learning Policy Institute con- What Are Unique Consideration for ducts and communicates inde- Education New Mexico’s Students? Providing the resources and account- Maintain recent investments pendent, high-quality research New Mexico’s rich geographic, ability to ensure that students in New • When considering cuts, keep edu- to improve education policy and cultural, and linguistic diversity is Mexico are engaged in a culturally and cation a priority for maintenance of practice. Working with policymakers, a source of great pride. It has also linguistically responsive educational funding. researchers, educators, community made achieving a statewide system system that meets the social, emotion- groups, and others, the Institute of effective and equitable schools al, and academic needs of all students. • Maintain core programs through SEG. seeks to advance evidence-based extraordinarily complex, as a “one PED’s Strategic Planning Pillars • Hold harmless for pandemic-related policies that support empowering size fts all” approach simply will enrollment and transportation anom- and equitable learning for each and not work. The considerable diver- Educator Ecosystem alies. every child. Nonprofit and nonpar- • Ensure every child has high quality sity among New Mexico’s districts, tisan, the Institute connects policy- educators. Direct funding according to eco- including those in which tribal col- nomic need makers and stakeholders at the local, laboration is required, makes some • Addressing the critical teacher state, and federal levels with the measure of local control necessary shortage through professionalizing • Improve the accuracy and granularity evidence, ideas, and actions needed of the income metric. if education is to adapt to the local education, recruiting and retaining top to strengthen the education system context. In fact, leaving decisions talent, providing extra support to new • Develop a more targeted funding from preschool through college and to local communities about how to teachers, and providing resources to stream (Family Income Index) for career readiness. provide education—local control— develop strong school leaders. schools serving high proportions of In 2015, LPI began its work to bring has been the overarching gover- Access To Opportunity low-income students. high-quality evidence into policy nance principle throughout the • Remove barriers and provide equita- Invest reform funding in critical deliberations at the federal, state, and state’s history. ble access to services for students to programs local levels with the goal of creating a In the outline below we captured just be able to thrive, regardless of back- stronger and more equitable educa- • Pandemic relief fund. a fraction of LPI’s recommendations ground. tion system. This report encompasses for our state and none of the rich work • Family income index. • Ensuring every student in New Mex- the past five years of research and that went into this report. For those of ico has equitable access to achieve • Tribal remedy framework. impact and creates a blueprint for the you looking for information and talking work ahead. personal success regardless of their Increase regional support and ac- points so that you are well-informed cit- demographics. countability We are incredibly fortunate to have LPI izen lobbyist, LPI’s report is well worth working with us here in NM. In Decem- reading. Identifying Pathways and Profiles • Special education. of a NM Graduate ber LPI researchers Jeannie Oakes, Dan- The report expands on these • Support for Martinez-Yazzie student iel Espinoza, Linda Darling-Hammond, • Increase graduation rates and op- groups. Carmen Gonzales, Jennifer DePaoli, Tara : portunities for applied, experiential 5 key elements • Program research and evaluation. Kini, Gary Hoachlander, Dion Burns, Meaningful learning goals, learning. Michael Griffth, and Melanie Leung 1. supported by • Develop multiple robust and relevant For those of you who are regular read- published and presented their report, Knowledgeable and skillful college and career pathways while de- ers of the work we do in the Albuquer- Improving Education the New Mexico 2. fining the educational, social, and civic que Teachers Federation you might Way: An Evidence-Based Approach. These educators skills every New Mexico high school have noticed that we often quote the paragraphs from the Executive Summa- Integrated student supports, and 3. graduate will possess. work of Linda Darling Hammond and ry captures the tone of this report: High-quality early learning the Learning Policy Institute. As you can 4. Addressing Whole Child Education The purpose of the study was to opportunities, all made see on their website: provide New Mexico leaders a re- • Increase academic outcomes while possible with search perspective on the challenges attending to the social-emotional, Adequate and equitably facing education and identify evi- 5. culture, linguistic, and distributed school funding. dence-based ways that state policy enrichment needs of all can address them. The central finding students. is that key to system improvement is recognizing that students who face barriers to school success—including poverty and systemic racism—are not exceptions in New Mexico; rather, “In both the short-term they are the norm. Accordingly, pandemic response and the state must design the long-term plan for a system that places improvement, New Mex- these students at ico has an opportunity the center and to prioritize a whole- builds the state child approach that and local capac- raises the academic bar ity to meet their and supports students’ diverse needs. social, emotional, and mental well-being.

Improving education the New Mexico way: An evidence-based approach • Learning Policy Institute • Palo Alto, CA • 2020 NM Public Education Department 2021 Legislative Goals

Revenue and Funding Our Schools We are republishing this story because understanding how New Mexico Public Schools are funded is essential if we want to be successful self-advocates for our schools, our profession and our students. Referred to throughout this publication is the SEG—State Equalization Guarantee. Understanding the SEG is crucial—it is the mechanism that distributes the money from the state to each of our 89 school districts for operating expenses.

Making the Case for a More Stable State Budget Some of the best information you can read to under- stand our state’s revenue and budget processes can found on the NM Voices for Children website. Their comprehensive Guide to New Mexico’s State Budget starts with this clear statement: Every dollar that the state of New Mexico spends – whether to pay teacher salaries, purchase asphalt to build roads, or fill up the gas tank in a state trooper’s vehicle – comes through the state bud- get. In New Mexico, a new budget is created every year by the state Legislature during the legislative The New Mexico Public Education Funding Story session. It is then signed (or vetoed) by the gover- nor. The state budget is entirely dependent upon In the mid-seventies the NM State Legislature made a In 1981, state coffers were bursting with oil and gas our tax system, which is how we raise the money decision to be responsible for funding the operation money. Euphoric lawmakers expected a $200 million that’s spent via the budget. of our school districts and create a funding formula to surplus. Not only could they bankroll their pork The NM Voices for Children Fairness Project has an equalize funding around the state. projects, they could give money back to taxpayers. ongoing commitment to improving tax policy in Colin McMillan, the Republican chairman of the That was a good decision. New Mexico and making sure that our tax system is House Taxation and Revenue Committee, crafted a fair and equitable for all New Mexicans. New Mexico is fairly unique in the way the schools bill dubbed the Big Mac. The research from NM Voices supports what our throughout the state are funded. In many parts of The Big Mac cut personal income taxes by 25 percent union has been working toward for a long time. the country, the schools are funded by taxes such as in 1981 and 33 percent in 1982, and shrank gross Diversifying our state’s revenue sources is perhaps property tax. That can create a significant difference in receipts taxes. Gov. King signed it. school districts that are relatively close to each other. the most important thing we can do in this, and Think inner-city schools versus suburban schools in big That year oil and gas revenues started to tail off, fed- subsequent, sessions of the Legislature. eral funding slumped from 32 to 15 percent of state cities, like Detroit. While the schools in the suburbs are As you know, the pandemic and resulting reces- general fund revenues, and a deep recession rolled enjoying luxuries such as clean campuses, safe build- sion have slowed New Mexico’s economy, which across the country. (Does any of this sound familiar?) ings, roofs that do not leak, and low teacher turnover, means we’re collecting less revenue to pay for the inner-city schools have to deal with crumbling In 1982, state revenues took a dive. education, health care, public safety, and other buildings, old textbooks, and a revolving door of teach- It was a painful lesson that haunted lawmakers during vital services. But that’s only part of the story. Just ers. The pay for teachers can also significantly vary, subsequent flush times; they cited it in 2001, when prior to the pandemic, oil prices took a deep dive, making it even harder to staff schools in lower socio- Gov. Gary Johnson wanted to cut taxes. In 2003, significantly decreasing the amount of revenue economic areas. New Mexico does things differently. when Gov. Bill Richardson proposed a tax cut without we’re collecting from that industry. Since that time the state has the sole responsibility for cutting spending, lawmakers developed amnesia. Oil and gas extraction provide the state with lots funding our schools. The State Equalization Guarantee Then in 2008 the great recession hit. Just we started of revenue to pay our teachers and put resources (SEG) is how the Legislature distributes state funding to recover, oil and gas revenues took another dive as in our classrooms. But we’ve become overly reliant equitably to all districts. result of the Pandemic. on this revenue source, which is volatile and sub- ject to global price gyrations. It’s time New Mexico The SEG is a progressive way to equitably distribute What happens now is a division problem. The state diversified its revenue sources and made our tax funding for schools. says there is X amount of funds for public education, system more fair for families who struggle to get and then divides it by the number of students in the by despite working hard. In our state, funding for the schools goes through state to figure out how much per student the state is something called the State Equalization Guarantee willing to pay. Then it funds school districts based on In a nutshell, this can be done by cutting taxes for (SEG). This was introduced in the 1974 Public School number of students through the weighted student those who earn the least while repealing some Finance Act and is used to guarantee equal funding to formula. When this calculation reveals a cost per tax cuts for the rich and well-connected. These tax all districts within the state according to their unique student that is lower than the actual cost per student cuts failed to produce the promised jobs, made student population. Basically, what the SEG does, is our schools are underfunded. our tax system less fair, and made the state too ensure that a student in a rural, small community reliant on oil and gas revenue. such as Roy, NM is given equal funding to a student Since 1982 we have been equally and inadequately You can read the latest report, Tax Policy: A Powerful in Albuquerque. funding schools. Tool to Advance Racial Equity in New Mexico, which Originally the SEG was crafted as a multiplication story. Over the years we have narrowed our state’s revenue advocates for better and more equitable tax policy It was equal and adequate. sources becoming over reliant on oil and gas. Now in New Mexico here. our public school funding is unstable. In the past, when the state was flush with revenues, funds were calculated and doled out to the districts The question is really simple: do we want fully funded “Last week’s meeting of the Revenue by way of a multiplication problem. The state would schools, or not? If so, we need to return to making the Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee determine how much it costs per student (via the SEG), funding formula a multiplication problem and do what included a sobering reminder of make all necessary adjustments for the various factors, is best for the families and students of New Mexico. the urgent need to find more stable revenue, but it also provided cause and then multiply that number by how many students Our schools are required to provide many essential were in each district. This is how we fully fund schools. for hope — by reforming an unstable, services for students. Without funding that is equal inequitable tax structure, and adequate we are short-changing our students. New Mexico can better serve the state’s children and future.”

“Tax reform would serve N.M.’s children” – James Jimenez, executive director for New Mexico Voices for Children Santa Fe New Mexican, 12/19/20 “Teacher Appreciation Week: They wanted respect. It only took a coronavirus pandemic and worldwide economic collapse.” ✏ ☺ USA Today Headline, May 4, 2020

APS Superintendent Search Air Advocacy When Superintendent Raquel Reedy announced Support strong, site-based shared leadership, Since any of us who have ever worked in a public her plan to retire last summer, the APS Board of the creation of innovative schooling models, and school can remember we have had issues with our Education began a national search for the district’s teacher autonomy to use innovative methods and ventilation systems. Who knew it would take a global next leader. Thirty-nine individuals applied and five materials to engage students. pandemic to get action on this important issue? semi-finalists were announced. Due to the COVID-19 Well, AFT knew. Address workload issues. (For some time, educa- pandemic, the Board decided to postpone continuing tors have described their workload as “unmanage- Ventilation and Building Systems the selection process and named Scott Elder as the able.” Many educators report frustration about tasks acting Superintendent. Having proper air circulation and filtration in indoor that do not directly inform teaching and learning or environments is necessary for the control of the Scott Elder, the district’s former Chief Operations improve outcomes for children.) spread of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Districts need Officer, signed a one-year contract, effective July 1, Promote and advocate for our district. to establish protocols on inspecting, repairing and 2020, through June 30, 2021, or until a permanent providing maintenance on ventilation systems within Focus on supportive and positive employee superintendent could be selected. Although Elder did their buildings. The American Society of Heating, working conditions. not initially apply for the position, he has indicated Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has that he would be interested in being considered as the Provide schools with individualized supports and developed proactive guidance in their document, permanent APS superintendent. resources based on the unique needs of students. “Reopening of Schools and Universities” to help Two of the semifinalists have accepted other positions. Be a strong manager—or hire one. address coronavirus disease concerns with respect The three remaining candidates on the Board’s short to the operation and maintenance of heating, venti- list are: Collaborate and innovate with the employees’ lating and air-conditioning systems. In general, they unions. Kimberly Finke recommend establishing enhanced inspection and Principal of Albuquerque Public Schools Execute proactive public relations. maintenance of the systems in addition to increased ventilation and filtration measures. Whittier Elementary School Our president, Ellen Bernstein, presented the survey James McIntyre results to the Board adding that educators believe In addition, the National Energy Management Institute Assistant Professor & Director that the next superintendent should work to create and the University of California at Davis Energy and Center for Educational Leadership a system of schools rather than a school system. In Efficiency Institute issued a white paper titled University of Tennessee a system of schools, the central office and offshoots “Proposed Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verifica- of the centralized administration know that they are tion and Repair Program for Buildings.” They propose Bolgen Vargas there to support the employees who work every day a Building Reopening Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Self-Employed Consultant & former Superintendent with students. This is very different from the traditional Verification and Repair Program that would certify Rochester City School District (New York) “school system” where employees are viewed as being that building ventilation and filtration systems meet The Board officially resumed their search on November there to support the work of the district’s central office. recommendations to protect against the spread of COVID-19. 9th and new applications were accepted until January She concluded by pointing out that our next superin- 6, 2021. The permanent superintendent is expected to tendent will inherit a district in which we have a tradi- Considerations for buildings without centralized be selected in the March 2021 time period and slated tion of labor/management collaboration at the district systems include keeping windows opened to allow for to start July 1, 2021. and the school level. Educators believe that the next some minimum level of fresh air exchange in occupied In the spring of 2020, our union conducted a survey superintendent must support the growth of school spaces. If there are window air conditioning units, asking ATF members what qualities they thought and classroom autonomy. they should be adjusted to maximize fresh air intake were essential in our district’s next leader. Educators into the system, and blower fans should be set at low were nearly unanimous with over 98% of respondents Things Have Changed speed and pointed away from room occupants to the agreeing with these statements: Since the search for a new superintendent began extent possible. Educators believe our next superintendent should: the national narrative has shifted focus to issues of Our AFT-NM President Stephanie Ly worked hard racial and social justice, and the importance of a to ensure our state took this guidance seriously. As Hold administrators accountable for a positive truly democratic society. The next APS leader has an a result, the PED’s Reentry Guide states: work-site culture. important role to play in ensuring our schools are: Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and Track staff turnover in the district, and at individual Relationship rich receive regular maintenance. Increase circulation sites, and use that information to focus on retention of outdoor air as much as possible. Take immedi- strategies for every employee group. Student centered Anti-racist, and ate actions to assess cooling and heating systems, Demand accountability for each and every APS procure filters with the highest MERV rating Professionally satisfying so that we can collective- department to have a service to-schools (and em- compatible with existing school systems, and ly do the work of preparing students to be caring, ployees) orientation, provide timely and accurate install the recommended filters as soon as they competent, critical thinkers and fully informed, responses, and be respectful in their interactions. are delivered to the school site. Take all necessary engaged, contributing members of society. Improve communication between district depart- measures to optimize filtration systems and ments and improve the communication flow from We will be asking APS educators to weigh-in with your augment air flow according to the CDC guidance. thoughts about what might be added to our priorities. district administration to practitioners and vice It is no small feat for our underfunded school systems We will also be sending you information about how versa. to upgrade our ventilation systems quickly and to you can participate in public forums as the Board con- this extent. The pandemic has changed our world. Ensure that there is a pervasive customer (i.e. tinues the search for the next Superintendent of APS. employee) service orientation in each department One change for the better might be that we have and that department personnel have an attitude better conditions in which to teach and learn from that central office exists to support schools, not the this point forward. other way around.

“A 2017 review of research on ventilation in schools suggests that most school ventilation systems fall short of standards on minimum ventilation rates. This has implications beyond the pandemic. There is compelling evidence from the research that student performance increased with increased ventilation rates, student absences fell with increased ventilation rates. And, as we know, reduced student absence has been shown to be associated with higher grade point averages. Increasing ventilation rates may impose new HVAC system capital costs, but the costs are worth the return on investment.”

The Ventilation Problem in Schools: Literature Review William J. Fisk, July 10, 2017 is the act of talking to elected officials about the merits of your position. Lobbying Your goal is to influence their position through your knowledge of the issues.

How to Talk So Your Legislator Will Listen

House & Senate IDENTIFY YOURSELF and give Education Committees your home address when calling or writing.

The House and Senate Education Committees have the power to recommend or reject a great deal of the legislation LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS to one concerning your career and your everyday work as an educator. Here’s a list of the members of these vital committees issue or one bill per email and some biographical information so that you can find common ground when you lobby them for action. or letter.

Note: These legislators all serve on multiple standing and interim committees. We have listed the interim committees IDENTIFY WHO YOU ARE. Inform that are most important to our work as educators, funding of our schools, and security of our retirement. the legislator that you are an educa- tor, union member and if applicable, House Education Committee a parent, grandparent, etc.

REFER TO THE BILL NUMBER dres Ro illiams S tine Tru y Garra if possible. n m W ta ris jill Jo tt . A er yl p h o G o r le C STATE THE ACTION YOU WANT. e t h o Let the legislator know. S n STATE THE KEY REASONS for your views.

PUT A HUMAN FACE ON THE ISSUE. Share personal experiences and how the legislation will affect you, your family and your students.

Chair (D) House Majority Floor Leader Member (D) Member (D) COUNTER ARGUMENTS the oppo- sition is using, if you can. Social Studies Teacher Member (D) APS Teacher: Retired APS Teacher: Retired Atrisco Heritage Academy HS APS CTE Coordinator/Director Former President: AFT-NM Jimmy Carter MS BE BRIEF. Painted Sky ES Member: Albuquerque Perkins Project Director Former Chair: ATF COPE ASK FOR A REPLY. Teachers Federation Member: AFT-NM Retirees Former Member & Fed Rep: Member: AFT-NM Retirees Interim Committees: Albuquerque Teachers Interim Committees: Former Member & Fed Rep: GET COMMITMENTS FOR Albuquerque Teachers ACTION. Find other legislators • Legislative Education Federation • Legislative Education Federation who support your position and Study Committee (LESC) At-Large Member: AFT Study Committee (LESC) get commitments for action. • Behavioral Health Former Secretary: • Legislative Finance Interim Committees: Subcommittee ATF Executive Council Committee ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO to further • Legislative Education Study • Land Grant Committee Interim Committees: shared goals. • Public School Capital Committee (LESC) • Public School Capital • Legislative Education Outlay Task Force SEND A THANK YOU or follow-up • Investments & Pensions Outlay Oversight Task Study Committee (LESC) Oversight Force - Advisory email or letter when appropriate.

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Member (D) Member (D) Member (R) Member (D) Member (D) Spanish Literacy Teacher Instructional Coordinator: Rancher Instructional Assistant: Community Economic Volcano Vista HS Developer Gadsden Independent Interim Committees: Retired Member: Albuquerque School District Interim Committees: • Public School Capital Member: AFT-NM Retirees Teachers Federation Interim Committees: Outlay Interim Committees: • Behavioral Heath Interim Committees: • Public School Capital • Public School Capital • Legislative Education • Investments & Pension • Legislative Education Outlay Oversight Task Outlay Oversight Task Study Committee Oversight Force - Advisory Study Committee (LESC) Force - Advisory (LESC) • Economic & Rural • Investments & Pensions • Legislative Finance Development Committee Oversight • Finance Authority Oversight

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Member (R) Member (R) Member (D) Member (D) Member (R) Member (R) Real Estate Broker CEO Private Religious Business Owner Broadcaster Rancher Attorney Interim Committees: Day Care Interim Committees: Interim Committees: Interim Committees: Interim Committees: Interim Committees: • Legislative Education • Water & Natural • Legislative Finance • Legislative Council None Listed Study Committee • Legislative Education Resources • Water & Natural (LESC) Study Committee Resources (LESC) • Indian Affairs is the act of talking to elected officials about the merits of your position. Lobbying Your goal is to influence their position through your knowledge of the issues.

Senate Education Committee

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Chair (D) Vice Chair (D) Member (D) Member (R) Teacher Business Owner Clergy Member: NEA Interim Committees: Interim Committees: Interim Committees: • Legislative Education • Legislative Education • Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) Study Committee (LESC) Study Committee (LESC) • Public School Capital Outlay • Public School Capital Outlay • Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force Oversight Task Force Oversight Task Force • Legislative Finance • Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) Committee (LFC)

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Member (D) Member (D) Member (R) Member (R) Interim Committees: Real Estate Appraiser Educator • Legislative Education Interim Committees: Interim Committees: Study Committee (LESC) • Legislative Finance • Investments & Pension Oversight • Investments & Pension Oversight • Radioactive & Hazardous • Interim Legislative Ethics Materials • Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy

House and Senate Appropriations & Finance Committees The House Appropriations & Finance Committee and the Senate Finance Committee make crucial decisions about the state budget and the funding our of schools and pensions. Here are the members of these very important committees.

House Appropriations & Finance Committee Senate Finance Committee

Patricia Lundstrom (D) Meredith Dixon (D) George Muñoz (D) Crystal R. Diamond (R) Chair Member Chair Member District: 9 District: 20 District: 4 District: 35 Nathan P. Small (D) Harry Garcia (D) Nancy Rodriguez (D) Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales (D) Vice Chair Member Vice Chair Member District: 36 District: 69 District: 24 District: 6 Anthony Allison (D) Susan Herrera (D) William E. Sharer (R) Siah Correa Hemphill (D) Member Member Ranking Member Member District: 4 District: 41 District: 1 District: 28 Phelps Anderson (R) Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D) William Burt (R) Jeff Steinborn (D) Member Member Member Member District: 66 District: 15 District: 33 District: 36 Gail Armstrong (R) T. Ryan Lane (R) Pete Campos (D) Pat Woods (R) Member Member Member Member District: 49 District: 3 District: 8 District: 7 Cathrynn Brown (R) Raymundo Lara (D) Jacob Candelaria (D) Member Member Member District: 55 District: 34 District: 26 Ambrose Castellano (D) Debra Sariñana (D) Member Member **Members or former members of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation District: 70 District: 21 Jack Chatfield (R) Candie Sweetser (D) Member Member District: 67 District: 32 Randal Crowder (R) Christine Trujillo (D) ** Member Member District: 64 District: 25 Contact Your Legislators

Senators

District 9 District 14 District 19 Brenda McKenna Michael Padilla Gregg Schmedes Get Text Message & [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Email Updates Twitter: Brenda McKenna Twitter: Michael Padilla Twitter: Gregg Schmedes Facebook: Brenda McKenna Facebook: Michael Padilla Facebook: Gregg Schmedes This 60-day session will move quickly and, due to social District 10 District 15 District 20 distancing, we won’t have Katie Duhigg Daniel A. Ivey-Soto** Martin Hickey physical access to the process. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Sign up for the ATF Action text Twitter: Katie Duhigg Facebook: Daniel A. Ivey-Soto Twitter: Martin Hickey messages and emails so you Facebook: Katie Duhigg Facebook: Martin Hickey can respond swiftly when leg- District 16 islative action is needed! District 11 District 21 Antoinette Sedillo Lopez To ensure you get timely up- Linda M. Lopez [email protected] Mark Moores dates from us during this legis- [email protected] Twitter: Antoinette Sedillo Lopez [email protected] lative session, subscribe to our Twitter: Linda M. Lopez Facebook: Antoinette Sedillo Lopez Facebook: Mark Moores list serve using your personal Facebook: Linda M. Lopez email address and your cell District 17 District 23 number to receive ATF Action District 12 Mimi Stewart** Harold Pope, Jr. text messages. Gerald Ortiz y Pino [email protected] [email protected] We cannot send political [email protected] Twitter: Mimi Stewart Twitter: Harold Pope, Jr. messages to your APS email Facebook: Gerald Ortiz y Pino Facebook: Mimi Stewart Facebook: Harold Pope, Jr. address. Be sure to use a District 13 District 18 District 26 non-APS email address when signing up and contacting Bill B. O’Neill Bill Tallman Jacob R. Candelaria legislators. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Facebook: Bill B. O’Neill Facebook: Bill Tallman Facebook: Jacob R. Candelaria To sign up for text messages and 2021 Legislative email District 29 updates click here. Gregory A. Baca [email protected] Facebook: Gregory A. Baca Representatives

District 7 District 17 District 25 Kelly K. Fajardo Deborah A. Armstrong Christine Trujillo** General Contact [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Information Twitter: Kelly K. Fajardo Twitter: Deborah A. Armstrong Twitter: Christine Trujillo Facebook: Kelly K. Fajardo Facebook: Deborah A. Armstrong Facebook: Christine Trujillo Capitol Switchboard District 8 District 18 District 26 (505) 986-4300 Alonzo Baldonado Gail Chasey Georgene Louis Ask for your Senator’s and/ [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] or Representative’s extension Twitter: Alonzo Baldonado Twitter: Gail Chasey Twitter: Georgene Louis Facebook: Alonzo Baldonado Facebook: Gail Chasey Facebook: Georgene Louis

District 10 District 19 District 27 House & Senate Mailing G. Andrés Romero** Sheryl M. Williams Stapleton** Marian Matthews Address [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Representative/Senator Name Twitter: G. Andrés Romero Twitter: Sheryl M. Williams Stapleton Facebook: Marian Matthews State Capitol Building Facebook: G. Andrés Romero Facebook: Sheryl M. Williams Stapleton Santa Fe, NM 87501 District 28 District 11 District 20 Melanie Ann Stansbury Javier Martínez Meredith Dixon [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Twitter: Melanie Ann Stansbury Twitter: Javier Martínez Twitter: Meredith Dixon Facebook: Malanie Ann Stansbury Facebook: Javier Martínez Facebook: Meredith Dixon District 29 District 12 District 21 Joy Garratt** Brittney Barreras Debra M. Sariñana** [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Twitter: Joy Garratt Facebook: Brittney Barreras Twitter: Debra M. Sariñana Facebook: Joy Garratt District 50 Facebook: Debra M. Sariñana District 13 District 30 Matthew McQueen District 22 [email protected] Patricia A. Roybal-Caballero Natalie Figueroa** Twitter: Matthew McQueen [email protected] Stefani Lord [email protected] Facebook: Matthew McQueen Twitter: Patricia A. Roybal-Caballero [email protected] Facebook: Natalie Figueroa Facebook: Patricia A. Roybal-Caballero Twitter: Stefani Lord District 60 Facebook: Stefani Lord District 31 Joshua Hernandez District 14 William “Bill” R. Rehm District 23 [email protected] Miguel P. García** [email protected] Facebook: Joshua Hernandez [email protected] Daymon Ely Twitter: Bill Rehm [email protected] Facebook: Bill Rehm District 68 District 15 Twitter: Daymon Ely Karen C. Bash Facebook: Daymon Ely District 44 Dayan Hochman-Vigil [email protected] [email protected] Jane E. Powdrell-Culbert District 24 Twitter: Karen C. Bash Twitter: Dayan Hochman-Vigil [email protected] Facebook: Karen C. Bash Facebook: Dayan Hochman-Vigil Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson** Facebook: Jane E. Powdrell-Culbert [email protected] District 16 Twitter: Elizabeth Thomson Antonio Maestas Facebook: Elizabeth Thomson [email protected] Twitter: Antonio Maestas Facebook: Antonio Maestas ** Members or former members of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation ATF EVENTS join All events take place virtually unless otherwise noted. your union today!

COPE ORGANIZING JANUARY Own Your Power: It Feels Like Magic Take A Stand For Democracy 19 OPENING DAY Join Your Union Today! 2021 Regular Legislative Session Sara Attleson, Chair of the ATF Unifed COPE Time: 12:00P Committee, Kennedy MS Your union fights incessantly for better teaching and learning conditions. The cornerstone of a healthy work- 19 POLISHING THE DIAMOND: If you had a magic wand, what would you change during your teaching day place is the ability for educators to make important Integrating Restorative Practices Into Our Schools or calendar? decisions about how you deliver your content and ser- Time: 4:00 - 6:00P • Cost: FREE* vices and how our schools will function best for Would you change: 19 DEVELOPING SELF AWARENESS: our students. • the number of minutes you are required to Did You Schedule Time To Breathe Today? teach math? Promoting democracy in our schools is central to the Time: 4:30 - 6:00P • Cost: FREE* mission of Albuquerque Teachers Federation whether • the size of your classes? it’s working to guarantee individual educator autonomy 20 YOU SAW THAT, WHERE? • the number of credits your students must have in the selection of materials and methods or making Social Support and Community Building to graduate? school-wide decisions through our Instructional Coun- Time: 4:00 – 6:00P • Cost: FREE* • the type of credits your students must fulfill cils. All of this is negotiated and enforced by your union. to graduate? 21 CAREER PATHWAY SYSTEM OVERVIEW SESSION Stand in solidarity with your colleagues and friends to Time: 4:30 - 6P • the number of counselors and social workers? build the world-class, democratic schools our students Cost: $10 (Members) / $65 (Non-members) • your salary? and educators deserve. JOIN YOUR UNION HERE! 21 IS EVERY VOICE BEING HEARD? • your health care insurance benefits? Examining Oppression, Power, and Privilege • the length of the school term? Through Intersectionality • the number and type of drills your school must Time: 4:30 – 6:30P • Cost: FREE* conduct each year? • the number of tests your students must endure 21 FRAMING TRAUMA IN THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: each year? Declutter the Mind Time: 4:00 – 6:00P • Cost: FREE* Actually, you do HAVE the magic wand, and that is your pen: the power of your pen on the ballot and the power 23 ATF/AFT-NM UNION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM of your pen (or keyboard) in staying connected with Time: 9:00A – 6:00P • Cost: FREE* your elected representatives in Santa Fe is beyond our 26 FRAMING TRAUMA IN THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM: wildest imagination. As educators and unionists, we are Declutter the Mind more powerful than we know. Sometimes we forget we Time: 4:00 – 6:00P • Cost: FREE* hold that power. Our Unified COPE Committee spent many hours finding * As part of ATF Students in the Center strong candidates. We helped them get elected through our activism by calling, writing post cards, and dropping literature to make sure our members and their families voted. We were successful in getting many great candi- dates elected or re-elected. But our work can’t stop on Election Day. FEBRUARY Our representatives need to know our daily struggles in our classrooms and in our school buildings. We can’t expect them to know unless we tell them. We can’t 3 YOU SAW THAT, WHERE? expect them to advocate for us if they don’t know our AROUND THE NATION Social Support and Community Building struggles and our strengths. And WE are the experts. Time: 4:00 – 6:00P • Cost: FREE* You are the expert who can tell the story: We’ve Never Been So Sad 4 IS EVERY VOICE BEING HEARD? • of watching your primary grade students cry to Be So Happy Examining Oppression, Power, and Privilege during a testing session whose outcome you Through Intersectionality could have predicted. That’s how many of us New Mexicans feel about the Time: 4:30 – 6:30P • Cost: FREE* nomination of U.S. Representative Deb Haaland to • of your high school students who don’t see value the office of Secretary of the Interior. Congresswoman 9 POLISHING THE DIAMOND: in taking a course equivalent to Algebra II in order Haaland, or “Deb” as she asks constituents and friends Integrating Restorative Practices Into Our Schools to graduate. to call her, has been a fierce, tireless advocate for both Time: 4:00 - 6:00P • Cost: FREE* • of your family’s financial struggle due to your public education and labor rights. We will miss how 9 DEVELOPING SELF AWARENESS: salary and health care benefits. accessible she is to the voters in her district. Did You Schedule Time To Breathe Today? • of receiving so many calls from your students and Although she still awaits Senate confirmation, we Time: 4:30 - 6:00P • Cost: FREE* their families who are in emotional jeopardy and are confident that our state’s potential loss will be knowing you can’t physically return them all. the nation’s gain. Deb’s commitment to balancing 18 LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION economic and environmental concerns along with • of having worked in a year-round school schedule Time: 12:00P her deep connection to our Native communities will that benefits students and families 23 POLISHING THE DIAMOND: make her a true asset to the Department of Interior. • of knowing that if you had five fewer kids per class, Integrating Restorative Practices Into Our Schools A committed environmentalist and defender of you would be able to regularly conference individually Time: 4:00 - 6:00P • Cost: FREE* democracy, we know that with Deb at the helm the with each of them on an assignment or project. United States will be set on a course of ecological * As part of ATF Students in the Center Corporate interests pay lobbyists to lobby our legisla- sustainability and respect for all Americans. tors. We don’t have that luxury, but the power of our Congratulations on your historic nomination, Deb! expert voices is worth its weight in gold as we commu- ATF will always have your back. nicate with senators and representatives. Educators are trusted public servants; we’re held to a higher standard than lobbyists. Our experiences add up when we all MARCH exercise the power of our voices. What happens in Santa Fe impacts our classrooms and 20 CLOSING DAY our buildings, the education of our students, and our 2021 Regular Legislative Session lives. Will you be the advocate for your students, your Time: 12:00P fellow educators, and your community by picking up your pen and lending your voice? You’ll find contact in- *All classes are held at the ATF Office formation for each of our area legislators in this edition. unless otherwise noted. Announcements

Spring Election for 2021 ATF Elections Timeline Students in the Center Presents... Dial-A-Teacher ATF Constituent VPs January 5 - Announcement of open positions on the Polishing the Diamond: ATF members in good standing are eligible to run for ATF Elections Committee at the January Fed Rep Council. Integrating Restorative Practices into our Schools Friendly Free Homework Help Developing Self-Awareness: Parent Calls Welcome Too! a constituent vice president seat at the level they are January 29 - Members seeking positions on the ATF Did you schedule time to breathe today? currently working. Elections Committee should submit a letter of intent to The following offices are up for election: the ATF Secretary, 530 Jefferson St. NE, ABQ, NM 87108. “You Saw That, Where?” Monday-Thursday Social Support and Community Building 2 Elementary VPs February 2 - Elections Committee nominees presented Is Every Voice Being Heard? 5:30 to 8:00 PM 1 Middle School VP by the ATF President to Fed Rep Council. Examining oppression, power, and privilege 1 High School VP March 1 - ATF Elections Committee must hold first through intersectionality 344-7531 1 Essential & Related Service Educators VP meeting prior to the election. Framing Trauma in the Virtual Classroom: The ATF Constitution states the following: The five (5) con- March 12 - Last day to become a union member to Declutter the Mind stituent vice-presidents shall be elected by their respective be eligible for elected office or to vote in the election. Bring your experiences, expertise and curiosity and constituencies as defined in the bylaws. They shall be April 1 - Candidates must submit a letter declaring join the conversation! elected for a two (2) year term every odd numbered year candidacy via Certified Mail, postmarked no later than by secret ballot on the first Tuesday after the first Monday See the ATF Calendar of Events on this edition of the April 1, 2021, to “Secretary of the ATF, 530 Jefferson St. Educators’ Voice for the dates. in May. The rules of conduct of the election shall not be NE, ABQ, NM, 87108.” amended in the six (6) months prior to the election. May 4 - ATF Election concludes Experienced APS Special The majority responsibility of the constituent vice- Education Teachers Need help with remote teaching? presidents shall be to: May 5 - Votes counted by the ATF Elections Committee. This is the place for you! Apply to become a Lead Teacher in a program designed 1. Communicate the needs and desires of the members Don’t Let this Year to recruit, support and retain high quality special educa- Share My Lesson is owned and operated in their constituency to the Executive Council. tion teachers for the 2021-22 school year. by the AFT. Share My Lesson is the premier Define Your Career! digital platform where educators can collab- 2. Attend all meetings of the Executive Council and the • Missing meaningful conversations with colleagues? The SETT program (Special Education Teacher Training) orate and share standards-aligned learning Federation Representative Council. • Looking for new ways to engage your students and is a partnership between APS, CNM and ATF. If accepted resources such as lesson plans, classroom Nominations must be mailed by CERTIFIED LETTER and yourself? as a Lead Teacher, you will: strategies, and professional development webinars—at no cost. postmarked no later than April 7, 2021 to Albuquerque • Want some new tools for your toolbox? • Co-teach with a Teacher Candidate for one semester Teachers Federation ATTN, Secretary, 530 Jefferson Street in your classroom AFT’s Share My Lesson is a destination Join us for an uplifting, solution-oriented, teacher led, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. • Attend monthly cohort meetings during the duty day for educators who dedicate their time and teacher-focused community building virtual gathering. professional expertise to provide the best Members will have the opportunity to vote online We’ll have a little PD, a little networking, and a lot of • Complete monthly contact logs education for students everywhere. Share beginning Tuesday, April 20, 2021. In-person voting at new ideas. Come to one or come to all. Each session will • Serve as a demonstration classroom for Teacher My Lesson members contribute content, the ATF Office will be available pending public health be stand-alone. Candidates to observe share ideas, and get educated on the topics orders. For purposes of voting eligibility, a member in that matter, online, 24/7. We issue Creative To RSVP (and receive a Google Meet link), or for more • Provide weekly support for your Teacher Candidate good standing is defined as having signed and submitted Commons licenses, and we do not share our info, email Ree Chacon at [email protected] second semester in their new classroom a membership application and had dues deducted for two members’ private data with anyone. • Receive a $3000 differential (2) pay periods before the election. Final membership Each gathering will take place from 4:00 – 5:00 PM on: Visit Us Today! eligibility for the election will be based on the March 12th • Thursday, January 28 If interested, email [email protected] for APS Payroll Update list. • Thursday, February 11 more details and directions for the application process. • Thursday, February 25 Deadline to apply is February 28, 2021. Wanted! ATF Election Committee Members Students in the New Mentor Program for Essential Service and Nominations are open for Spring 2021 Election Center Opportunities Support Educators Committee Members for the 2021 election of the This past summer, with the data re- five (5) ATF Constituent Vice Presidents. garding student engagement from the Attention Counselors, Social Workers, Nurses, Inter -preters, Speech and Language Pathologists, Occu- The process for choosing the Election Committee spring and the looming possibility pational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Audiologists, will include the following: of on-line learning continuing into the fall, it became clear that the focus in Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Athletic Trainers, • Announcement of open positions on the Election classrooms needed to be on relation- School Psychologists, Educational Diagnosticians, and Committee will be made at the January Federation ship building, self-awareness, self- Transition Specialists/Rehab Counselors. Representative Council meeting (1/5/21). management, social awareness, and responsible decision …you now have a mentorship program ready for • Members seeking these positions must submit a making. In an effort to provide resources, information, second semester! Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia letter of interest to the ATF Secretary by January and lessons, ATF brought together a group of diverse APS Information can be found here on the ATF website. project that offers a wealth of bilingual, 29th, which is the last business day of the month. educators/union members with a shared passion and research-based information, activities, and New to your profession and need a mentor? Experienced • The ATF President will present the nominees to the multifaceted knowledge of integrating developmentally advice for educators and families of English practitioners, are you ready to be a mentor? Assigned February Federation Representative Council for its appropriate Social Emotional Learning into schools. language learners (ELLs) in Grades PreK-12. vote of approval (2/2/21). Those receiving the most mentors will earn $1,000 a semester just like in the Colorín Colorado has been providing free After meeting virtually, the cadre realized that what votes will be elected to the open positions on the teachers’ mentor program. For more info, send an research-based information, activities, and they set out to do was already being done. Social advice to parents, schools, and communities Election Committee. The approved members of the email to [email protected] Emotional Learning resources were being offered in around the country for more than a decade. Election Committee will meet before the first many formats, but what was not available was a place CPS Coordinator Job Opening Monday in March. Colorín Colorado is an educational service to have important conversations around meaningful of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting • To be eligible to serve on the Election Committee, If you are an experienced Essential & Related Service and sometimes difficult subjects that educators were Educator who is a member of your union, we have a station in the nation’s capital, and receives a person must be a member of ATF for at least confronting daily. major funding from the American Feder- two (2) years or a member of a union for at least great opportunity for you! Educators have been tackling many difficult subjects ation of Teachers and National Education three (3) years and preferably be an active member Your union is currently seeking a new coordinator for Association. of the union. during these unprecedented times. This task has proven the Career Pathway System. The CPS Coordinator works to be arduous without the community and support that ¡Visit Colorín Colorado Today! Active membership includes: for ATF earning a stipend in a part-time position. The in-person teaching offers. The focus of the cadre changed application is on the ATF website here. For information • Elected as a Federation Representative from providing resources to providing a place to learn, and an application call Ellen at 262-2657. • Builds our Union through recruitment of potential share information, and connect with other educators. members Feed Our Families: ATF/Road- After a semester of collaboration and growth, the ATF runner Food Bank Partnership • Serves on a Union Committee Students in the Center Cadre would like to invite you to a • Instructs a Union Class series of conversations that will give you an opportunity Thank you, educators, for continuing to heed the call help to share ideas and learn from your peers. Please join us alleviate hunger in our city. Our union (THAT’S YOU!) has to discuss a range of topics that intersects SEL with topics now raised $19,000 to feed our students and neighbors. such as restorative practices, educator self-care, commu- We are making a difference! This effort is truly a great nity building, equity, and trauma. Bring your successes way to express our spirit of giving and solidarity during and failures so that we can all learn from each other as this holiday season. Click here to donate! we embark on another uncharted semester of learning.