Much has been in the news about the breakdown of communication between tribal communities and the Legislative Education Study Committee, which was uninvited to meet in Gallup. Yesterday and today, UNM Gallup hosted the Interim Indian Affairs Committee, which covered many of the issues related to the Yazzie Martinez education insufficiency order. Very important updates can be found in the handouts linked here https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts_List?CommitteeCode=IAC&Date=8/4/2021.
I am only mentioning Yazzie-Martinez implementation issues here as co-chair of the LWVNM Education Committee, though much is of interest to the Tribal Law Study Committee. I am working on education issues with that committee. With school starting and the delta variant increasing, we may soon be back to remote learning. In April 2021, the court ordered the state to address the lack of technology infrastructure/broadband access no matter the cost in order to address the Yazzie Martinez order. PED has not done enough as can be seen in today’s update, attached.
In April 2021, the court ordered the state to address the lack of technology infrastructure/broadband access no matter the cost in order to address the Yazzie Martinez order. PED has not done enough as can be seen in today’s update, attached.
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Of great interest to education equity, please see the bold https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts?CommitteeCode=IAC&Date=8/4/2021&ItemNumber=11
Item 11 |
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Broadband issues and lack of infrastructure for health, water, etc. in rural and Indian communities were also covered in a report linked here. https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts?CommitteeCode=IAC&Date=8/4/2021&ItemNumber=7
KEY TAKEAWAYS: BROADBAND ACCESS IN NEW MEXICO
• 13% of New Mexican homes and businesses do not have access to
broadband infrastructure.
• More than 70 % of New Mexican households do not have an internet
connection at speeds of 25 Mbps / 3 Mbps.
• Approximately 20% of New Mexico households do not have an
internet connection at all.
• Rural communities in New Mexico have the lowest access to
broadband in the nation.
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*“Gaps in Implementation of Sufficient and Equitable Public Education
By Yazzie Plaintiffs, August 2021
New Mexico’s students have faced decades of systemic racism in our society, institutions and school system, and
some of the worst educational outcomes in the country. In the Yazzie/Martinez decision, the court ruled that the
state constitution requires the state to comprehensively overhaul the public education system for Native
American students, English language learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students (termed “at
risk” by the court).”
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Meredith Machen
League of Women Voters of New Mexico
Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy