Judge Orders New Mexico to Revise School Plan
A federal judge directed the state to fix gaps in its education strategy for vulnerable students by March 2027.
By Alina Marshall ·
Albuquerque, New Mexico. A federal judge ordered the state to rewrite a portion of its education remediation plan on Monday, concluding that the current strategy still fails to support its most vulnerable students. The ruling sends the Public Education Department back to the drafting table to address deficiencies identified in the nearly 200-page document.
The decision stems from the Yazzie-Martinez case, which two parents filed in 2014. A court ruled in their favor in February 2019, requiring the state to create a plan to help disabled, Native, English-learning, and low-income students succeed in class and after graduation. The state spent five years fighting that ruling before releasing its initial plan last year.
The judge’s order specifically cites a lack of concrete steps regarding class sizes, teacher training, and evaluations. The state must now submit a supplemental plan that includes specific actions for reducing class sizes, funding textbooks, and providing summer school and extended learning opportunities.
Loretta Trujillo, a lead plaintiff, stated that the current approach treats all students the same, which leaves disadvantaged children behind. She argued that erasing student identities forces young people to feel like empty vessels rather than active participants in their learning.
Trujillo said the ruling does not go far enough and that advocates remain largely outside the editing process. She noted that communities feel underheard and under-resourced, a combination that prevents visible changes in student outcomes despite increased financial investments.
The Public Education Department did not provide an interview but issued a written response. The department described the ruling as a valuable roadmap that provides greater clarity. It expressed confidence in its ability to complete the required supplement and pledged commitment to delivering an excellent education for every student in the state.
The state must deliver the supplemental plan by March 26, 2027. Plaintiffs have until April 23 to file any objections to the new document.
