House Bill 331 passed on March 9th. Sponsored by Representative Mimi Stewart, it changes New Mexico's outdated funding formula for public schools. The bill bases school funding on student needs including poverty, ELL, enrollment growth and other factors. The fight isn't over yet.
House Bill 346, which provides the funding for the formula set out in HB 331, should follow soon. The rationale to oppose tax increases for public schools was removed after a recent poll found New Mexicans willing to pay higher taxes for public schools.
NEA-NM activists who have been following the movement of these bills through the 60-day session should remain on their toes for last-minute updates posted on a regular basis to the NEA-NM 60-day legislative session blog.
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