Four Pillars: A World-Class Education System for New Mexico contains narratives from educators and research regarding what policies should be implemented to support public education in New Mexico.

http://nm.aft.org/files/four_pillars_2014-2.pdf

Today HB 67 was ruled germane which means it will move forward for consideration in the House. HB 67 raises the minimum salary levels in the three-tier licensure system by $10,000 in each tier by 2018. The last time there was a raise to the three-tier salary levels was in 2007. 

On Saturday, Jan. 25, and Monday, Jan. 27, the House Education Committee will hear HB 3 which contains salary increases for all public school employees. On Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 1:30, the Senate Finance Committee will hear higher education budget proposals related to higher education instruction.

Tell your legislators

On the first day of session, the issue of education was front and center, but instead of discussing growing classroom sizes, increasing poverty rates and the struggles that our students and families face daily, Governor Martinez again focused on third-grade retention and rating teachers by student test scores. She was quick to take credit for the increase in graduation rates but took no responsibility for our state being ranked as 50^th in the nation for child well-being, nor for the lack of early childhood education, insufficient funding for our schools, and poverty levels that led us there.  

On January 20, 2014, hundreds of education advocates filled the Roundhouse in support of a collective vision for education reform. AFT President Stephanie Ly, Santa Fe Mayor David Coss, Las Cruces student Jacqueline Parr Sanchez, and parent and community activist Raquel Roybal introduced the group's efforts to reach out to educators, parents, students and communities around the state to develop a statewide vision for education. 

AFT President Randi Weingarten also addressed the crowd reminding them of Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that educational justice was inextricably tied to economic

Albuquerque, NM--Statement of AFT New Mexico President Stephanie Ly (also a member of NEA New Mexico) on the shooting at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, NM:

“Our hearts go out to the students, families and staff at Berrendo Middle School and the community they serve. While we don’t have all the details yet, today’s tragedy is the latest reminder that we all have a duty to every child to provide safe and secure public schools. Guns have no place in schools, which should be sanctuaries for our children. We must continue to do everything we can, including working to adopt common-sense gun laws

Martin Luther King Community Education Day of Action

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten, parents, educators, students and community members for a press conference to share our collective vision for public education.

When: Monday, January 20, 2014

Time: 2:30pm

Where: Rotunda of the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe

For more info contact: putstudentsfirstnm@gmail.com

http://nm.aft.org

www.facebook.com/AFTNM

AFT NM Albuquerque office # 505-266-6638

please RSVP here

http://nm.aft.org/files/mlk_jan_20_press_conference.pdf