ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico’s child poverty rate is either the highest in the nation or better than the national average – depending on which poverty measurement is used. Both poverty rates come from the U.S. Census Bureau, but take very different factors into account. In order for state lawmakers to make informed decisions about public policies affecting children, they must understand the factors that influence these poverty measurements.

That is the central message of a new report, “Understanding the Impact of Income Supports in the Data,” released today by the child advocacy organization New Mexico Voices for Children. The report is the first in a series titled “From Poverty to...

SANTA FE – District courts on their own can order hearings to determine whether evidence obtained through a warrantless search by law enforcement will be allowed in a criminal prosecution, the state Supreme Court ruled today.

In a split decision, the Court concluded that a judge in northern New Mexico had the constitutional authority to raise the evidentiary issue by ordering suppression hearings “sua sponte,” meaning on the court’s own initiative without a motion being made by an attorney for the defense or other party.

“For more than one hundred years this Court has recognized the authority of courts to act to protect a defendant’s fundamental rights,” the Court wrote in...

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Education Department’s Office of Special Education announced today the release of the 2024-2027 Special Education State Plan.

The Office of Special Education, led by Dr. Margaret Cage, deputy secretary of special education, developed the State Plan to provide stakeholders with practical, user-friendly resources to support students with disabilities. The plan will be updated annually to ensure it reflects best practices and meets the needs of students and families.

"The State Plan was thoughtfully crafted to align with the Office of Special Education’s core principles,” Deputy Secretary Cage said. “The work of the OSE supports the fundamental...

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Education Department today released school ratings for the 2023-2024 school year, highlighting important gains for New Mexico’s schools.

Five additional New Mexico schools are now rated as high performing, according to evaluation results, and 70% fewer schools were identified as in need of targeted, comprehensive, or rigorous support.

"We are excited to celebrate the incredible work happening in our classrooms to boost student performance,” Public Education Secretary-Designate Mariana Padilla said. “While there's still much to be done, it's essential to honor the progress and victories we're achieving along the way, especially considering the...