Paul Martinez
Editor:
I am writing to respond to the Dec. 18 column entitled “State’s School Funding Formula Up for Possible Recalculation.”
New Mexico’s Constitution guarantees a “uniform system of free public schools, sufficient for the education and open to all children of school of school age in the state.” It does not politely suggest providing educational funding that is left over after other legislative requests have been fulfilled. The next legislative session is expected to address this constitutional issue in a meaningful and sustainable way. An education bill is expected to be introduced during the 2009 New Mexico Legislative session, that will change New Mexico’s 35-year-old public education funding formula.
New Mexico’s schools are currently underfunded by at least 15 percent or $350 million dollars, according to a two-year comprehensive study conducted by a statewide task force. The new funding formula would incorporate four measures of student need; poverty, English language learners, special education and mobility. It would recognize costs associated with a school district and school size. It would allow districts to provide an instructional program designed to sufficiently meet student needs.
New Mexico has been moving in the wrong direction for 20 years, in the area of funding education. Public schools were provided with 51.6 percent of the state’s general revenues in 1986, while 2008 funding provided schools with only 43.3 percent of general revenues. This trend has become even more problematic as new, unexpected, unavoidable costs have hit schools. We owe our children, our neighbors children, and the rest of the state’s children access to a sufficient education.
Paul Martinez
Center for the Education and Study of Diverse Populations
Espanola