Clovis Municipal Schools and all public school districts in New Mexico are facing a significant challenge from the New Mexico Public Education Department.
The New Mexico Public Education Department is proposing a rule change that would mandate all school districts in the state adhere to a minimum of 180 student days per academic year.
Background –
The New Mexico Public Education Department is, through the rule making process, attempting to modify school calendar requirements set by the legislature this year. This action, in effect, subverts the legislative process and puts into effect rules that the legislature rejected through the passage of House Bill 130.
In the spring of 2023, House Bill 130 was passed, essentially setting the school calendar requirement at 1,140 hours per year.
Prior to being passed by the legislature, this bill would have required a minimum 180-day school year, much like the now proposed change from the NMPED, however it was modified by the legislature after Clovis Municipal Schools joined with school leaders around the state in objecting to the more stringent requirements.
The legislature ultimately sided with school districts through HB130, putting into law the more locally adaptive 1,140 hour requirement.
The legislature, through the heavily debated, well-documented struggle surrounding HB 130, sent a clear message that New Mexico School districts should retain flexibility and adaptive planning when it comes to school calendars – a stance the NMPED is now subverting through its regulatory powers.
This was not and continues to be in direct opposition to the intention of the legislature and the spirit of what it was establishing through the passage of HB 130.
Current Requirements –
Under current statute, districts have the option of simply meeting a 1,140 hour requirement.
Current Clovis Municipal Schools schedule:
Clovis Schools enjoys a calendar with 170 student days — a schedule that has served our community well.
Consequences of the change –
The proposed changes would remove the ability for our neighboring small schools to continue with a full time four-day per week schedule (for example Texico) -- a model that has been in place for well over 40 years in many surrounding local districts.
What’s more concerning is that the NMPED is attempting to enforce this rule by inserting language into the rule that does not currently exist in New Mexico Statute, and by doing so, will be exerting authority it does not have.
What Research shows regarding instructional time increases:
The proposed change is not supported by research, which consistently shows that increased instructional time alone does not guarantee improved student outcomes.
Rather, factors such as regular attendance, student engagement, smaller class sizes, rigorous learning opportunities, highly qualified teachers, high quality learning materials, and robust family and community support are proven contributors to academic success.
Why should this matter?
It’s a move that raises questions about the department’s power and the potential infringement on our local autonomy.
Furthermore, the proposed amendment from NMPED not only challenges the efficacy of our current school calendar but also threatens the very essence of local control. Our community has thrived on the ability to tailor our school calendar to the unique needs and values of CMS.
The proposed mandate strips away this essential element of local control, undermining our ability to make decisions that best serve our students, parents, and educators. We need to stand united in preserving the autonomy that has allowed CMS to flourish, ensuring that decisions about our school calendar remain in the hands of those who know our community best — us.
Take Action!
Together, we can protect the legacy of local control that defines the spirit of Clovis Municipal Schools.
Now, it’s our time to act! We need to pull together as a community — school employees, parents, and members of the local community — to voice our concerns and protect the unique calendar that has been instrumental in helping us make some of the recent gains we have achieved.
Let’s make our voices heard and stand up for what we believe is right for our students, our schools, and our community. Together, we can make a difference.
We have posted information on our website and social media pages community members can access to learn more:
Please take a moment to review the proposed changes in the 6.10.5 NMAC, School Calendar Requirements
https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/bureaus/policy-innovation-measurement/rulemaking/rule-notification/
YOUR VOICE MATTERS - TELL THE STATE WHAT YOU THINK!
The Public Comment period on this issue concludes Monday, December 18, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. following a Public Hearing in Santa Fe that same day.
Submit written input to: rule.feedback@ped.nm.gov