HOUSE MEMORIAL 30

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Joy Garratt and G. Andrés Romero and Brian G. Baca

and Jack Chatfield

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY PUBLIC EDUCATION GOVERNANCE.

 

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's education system is complex and shaped by diverse communities, unique strengths and longstanding commitments to educational improvement, and continued refinement of governance structures presents an opportunity to strengthen coherence, continuity and shared statewide vision for student success; and

     WHEREAS, the Martinez-Yazzie v. State of New Mexico education sufficiency ruling found the state had failed to meet its constitutional obligation for at-risk students and called for a comprehensive statewide plan, clear implementation, monitoring and accountability structures; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative education study committee analysis of strategic plans developed by entities across New Mexico shows substantial overlap in goals but limited systemic coherence, resulting in an uneven approach to improvement and unclear roles and responsibilities across the education ecosystem; and

     WHEREAS, long-term educational planning can be strengthened by structures that support continuity across administrations, reduce the impact of short-term policy shifts and promote stable, collaborative approaches to statewide educational goals; and

     WHEREAS, high-performing education systems globally and in the United States share common governance features, including inclusive cross-sector planning groups, legislatively authorized long-term commissions and structures to create a coherent vision linking education to economic and civic prosperity; and

     WHEREAS, national and international research indicates that jurisdictions rapidly improving the jurisdictions' education systems often have governance structures that set a jurisdiction-wide vision; link education to economic goals; learn systematically from national and global exemplars; sustain progress across political transitions; and intentionally include educators, youth and communities in decision-making; and

     WHEREAS, states such as Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Pennsylvania have created formal commissions to design statewide visions, align agencies, develop multi-year implementation strategies and embed evaluation through independent oversight bodies, illustrating actionable models for New Mexico as it considers its own structures; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's own context, including the Martinez-Yazzie v. State of New Mexico ruling, diverse student population, rural-urban variation, tribal sovereignty and significant investments in education initiatives, requires a governance approach that both responds to immediate needs and anticipates future challenges; and

     WHEREAS, long-term planning efforts indicate that New Mexico may benefit from a structure that coordinates statewide vision, supports effective implementation, monitors progress and sustains improvement across leadership transitions; and

     WHEREAS, a formal, legislatively authorized working group could evaluate options for such a structure, assess roles and responsibilities across agencies and levels of governance and make recommendations that clarify authority, strengthen system capacity, improve coherence and help ensure that all New Mexico students receive equitable, high-quality educational opportunities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to study public education governance; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the importance of an effective public school governance system be acknowledged and that the legislative education study committee be requested to convene a working group focused on education governance and long-term educational planning during the 2026 interim and make recommendations on the purpose, feasibility, structure, time line and composition of a potential education commission, including a review of options for establishing a statewide education commission; a review of New Mexico statutes governing education systems; strategies to strengthen system capacity and coherence; how long-term planning can support the state's response to the Martinez-Yazzie v. State of New Mexico case; a review of existing strategic plans addressing education in New Mexico; and the fiscal, staffing and statutory considerations necessary to implement any recommended governance structure; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to work with the legislative finance committee; the public education department; the early childhood education and care department; the higher education department; the Indian affairs department; the children's cabinet; community, research and nonprofit organizations with expertise in education, systems design or long-term planning; public school educators; Indian nations, tribes and pueblos; and other individuals as requested by the legislative education study committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee develop a process for additional members of the working group to be determined, including appointment by the executive branch and legislative branch; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be authorized to organize subgroups to study distinct aspects of education governance and planning; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee be requested to publish a report of its research and recommendations by November 30, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative education study committee, the director of the legislative finance committee, the secretary of public education and the governor.

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