The Line: New Mexico’s Expanded K-5 Plus Program Comes with Concerns

April 26, 2019 – A new approach to boosting New Mexico’s struggling education system is already experiencing some growing pains. Lawmakers this year approved new money for the K-5 Plus Program, which would offer 25 extra days of school for students in kindergarten through 5^th grade. But some districts are having a hard time finding the teachers to staff the program, which requires the teachers in the K-5 Plus Program must also be the same teacher a student has the following school year. Host Gene Grant and The Line opinion panelists talk about the concerns and how smaller districts are handling the challenge.

Line Panelists:
Adrian Carver, Executive Director, Equality New Mexico
Dan Foley, NM House Republican Whip
Stephanie Maez, Executive Director, ProgressNow New Mexico
Kristelle Siarza, CEO, Siarza Social Digital

For Further Reading:

New rules for K-5 Plus put some New Mexico Schools in bind, by Dillon Mullan, Santa Fe New Mexican

Some New Mexico schools struggle with K-5 Plus requirements, KRQE

An educational shift is on the horizon in New Mexico, by Dillon Mullan and Robert Nott, Santa Fe New Mexican