[LWVNM Action] Education, Yazzie Martinez Implementation Problems, Update in Indian Affairs Committee, Gallup, not LESC-Tribal ED, health, economic, and broadband issues

[Meredith Machen]

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
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts_List?CommitteeCode=IAC&Date=8/4/
2021> &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.
**
Of great interest to education equity, please see the bold
https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts?CommitteeCode=IAC
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts?CommitteeCode=IAC&Date=8/4/2021&
ItemNumber=11> &Date=8/4/2021&ItemNumber=11

Item 11
 

 
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/IAC%20080421%20Item%2011%20Handout-NMCLP%2
0Updated%20Education%20Gaps%20by%20Yazzie%20Plaintiffs-August%202021.pdf>
Handout-NMCLP Updated Education Gaps by Yazzie Plaintiffs-August 2021

 
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/IAC%20080421%20Item%2011%20Handout-YazzieM
artinez%20Court%20Ruling%20on%20New%20Mexico%E2%80%99s%20Education%20System.
pdf> Handout-YazzieMartinez Court Ruling on New Mexico's Education System

 
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/IAC%20080421%20Item%2011%20Making%20a%20Pl
an%20for%20NM%20and%20Examples%20from%20the%20Comprehensive%20Plan%20in%20No
rth%20Carolina.pdf> Making a Plan for NM and Examples from the Comprehensive
Plan in North Carolina

 
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/IAC%20080421%20Item%2011%20Navajo%20Nation
%20DODE%20Presentation.pdf> Navajo Nation DODE Presentation

 
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/IAC%20080421%20Item%2011%20PED%20presentat
ion.pdf> PED presentation

 
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/IAC%20080421%20Item%2011%20TENM%20Platform
%20for%20Transformation%20-%20Updated%20May%202021.pdf> TENM Platform for
Transformation - Updated May 2021

 
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/handouts/IAC%20080421%20Item%2011%20Tribal%20Remedy
%20Framework.pdf> Tribal Remedy Framework
. 
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
<https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts?CommitteeCode=IAC&Date=8/4/2021&
ItemNumber=7> &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.
^^
*"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)." 
**
Meredith Machen
League of Women Voters of New Mexico

 <tel:505-577-6337> 505-577-6337 c
 <mailto:projects at lwvnm.org> projects at lwvnm.org
 <mailto:meredith.machen at gmail.com> meredith.machen at gmail.com
 
Empowering Voters - Defending Democracy
 
 
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