New Mexico Public Schools

1. New Mexico Public Schools A Discussion on the Sufficiency of Funding for New Mexico�s Public Schools and Its Distribution

2. Constitution of New Mexico ARTICLE 12: EDUCATION Sec. 1. Free Public Schools �A uniform system of free public schools sufficient for the education of, and open to, all the children of school age in the state shall be established and maintained.�

3. 1974 A funding formula for the distribution of revenue to all public schools was introduced and approved by the 1974 Legislature. This formula is the mechanism that distributes 95% of the operational revenue for all public schools in New Mexico. It is the responsibility of the Legislature and the Governor of our State to fund this formula at a level that ensures a sufficient education for all public school children in New Mexico.

4. Two-Year Study The Funding Formula Task Force, made up of representative legislators, school board members, union representatives, and school administrators contracted with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to conduct a two-year study on the sufficiency of educational funding in New Mexico�s public schools as well as its distribution mechanism. As part of the study, AIR solicited input through its website questionnaire, targeted surveys, and 23 public engagement meetings throughout the state to understand what New Mexicans think their public schools should be to students, families, and the community and what they think students should learn. The final findings of the study group determined that New Mexico Schools are being underfunded by nearly 15% or $354 million per year.

5. State Budget Revenue In 1986-1987 the public schools in New Mexico were appropriated 51.60% of the state�s total recurring budgeted revenue. 1990-1991 was the last year the Legislature funded public schools at 50 percent of the state�s total recurring budgeted revenue. In 2000 � 2001 public schools in New Mexico were receiving 46.37% of the State�s total recurring revenue budget. In 2007 � 2008 public schools in New Mexico are receiving 43.8% of the State�s total recurring revenue budget. For the 2008-2009 school year, public education�s share of the the state�s total recurring revenue fell to 43.3%, with only 36% of new dollars being appropriated to public schools. Overall, public schools saw a 5% increase in funding including the second year implementation of elementary PE, a 2% salary increase with an additional 1% for educational assistants.

6. Decrease In Percentage of Recurring State Revenue for Public Education

7. Insufficient Funding Over the past 20 years, the State�s recurring revenues have increased by millions and millions of dollars. During those same 20 years, the public schools have continued to be appropriated less and less of a percentage of those new recurring revenues. If the Legislature and Governor allocated public schools 50% of the recurring revenues of our State�s budget, public schools would see an increase of more than $376 million per year.

8. A New Funding Formula The appointed study group and the independent contractor developed a new funding formula that, if fully funded, would ensure each New Mexico school district would receive sufficient funding for its students and educational programs. This new formula distributes revenue to all public schools according to the percentage of students in poverty, special ed students, ELL students, high mobility students, and school enrollment size. The study indicated that an additional $354 million would provide sufficient funding for all New Mexico Schools.

9. In Summary As you can see, each year for the past 20 years public education has received an increasingly smaller percentage of our state�s recurring revenues. Because of insufficient funding, school districts are unable to sufficiently meet the ever increasing needs of their students. The Legislature must provide sufficient revenues for public education. Otherwise, New Mexico schools will continue to struggle, and probably fail, to meet the needs of their students.