The New Mexico Legislature convened on September 20, 2024, to discuss key educational initiatives, particularly focusing on literacy programs aimed at improving reading skills among students. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Summer Literacy Institute, which has become a central element of the state's literacy strategy.

The discussion highlighted the state's commitment to structured literacy, an evidence-based approach designed to enhance reading and writing proficiency among students. Over the past few years, the legislature has made substantial investments in this area, including a $14 million appropriation for fiscal year 2025 aimed at training elementary teachers in structured literacy.

In the current session, lawmakers approved an additional $30 million for the Summer Literacy Institute. This funding is intended to provide targeted support to students, particularly those affected by disparities highlighted in the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit. The funds have primarily been allocated to hiring literacy instructors and acquiring necessary curriculum resources. Specifically, $17.2 million was used to hire temporary literacy instructors through ATA services, while $8.4 million was directed to the Southwest Regional Education Cooperative for similar purposes.

The results of these investments have been promising, with 1,053 literacy instructors hired and 9,533 students participating in the program. Although these figures fell slightly short of the program's initial goals, they represent significant progress in a short timeframe. However, the meeting acknowledged a lack of current metrics to evaluate the program's effectiveness.

To assess student growth, the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) implemented DIBELS assessments, which measure essential reading skills for K-8 students. Students were evaluated at both the beginning and end of the program to determine any improvements in reading proficiency. The Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) and the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) expressed support for this assessment approach and are eager to see the results.

Looking ahead, the committees emphasized the importance of continuing funding for the Summer Literacy Institute, recommending an ongoing investment of $30 million while ensuring that measurable outcomes are reported. They underscored the critical nature of improving literacy rates for the overall success of students and the state.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored New Mexico's ongoing commitment to enhancing literacy through structured programs and highlighted the need for thorough evaluation of these initiatives to ensure their long-term effectiveness.