LESC News:
SANTA FE — The Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) will meet Wednesday, Dec. 17; Thursday, Dec. 18; and Friday, Dec. 19 in Room 322 at the New Mexico State Capitol.
The three-day meeting will convene lawmakers and state education officials to discuss ongoing public education initiatives and legislative priorities.
Schedule:
- Day 1, Dec. 17 — LESC will begin its December hearings with a report on results from the state’s school climate survey, along with recommendations to strengthen the behavioral health workforce in New Mexico’s schools. The committee will also hear presentations on local and state long-term financial planning, as well as an update from the Public Education Department (PED) on school improvement processes and the Educator Fellows program. Public comment will be held during the afternoon of the first day of hearings.
- Day 2, Dec. 18 — Hearings will continue with presentations from education partners and stakeholders on their 2026 legislative session budget and policy priorities. Presenting organizations will include the New Mexico School Boards Association, the New Mexico Coalition of Education Leaders, the New Mexico School Superintendents’ Association, National Education Association New Mexico, the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico, the New Mexico Parent Teacher Association, and Public Charter Schools of New Mexico. In the afternoon, LESC staff will present fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget proposals and 2026 legislative session bill proposals for potential committee endorsement.
- Closing Day, Dec. 19 — The committee hearings will conclude with a presentation on Native American language and culture certification, an update on PED administrative rules, and a standing report from the LESC director.
Advisory: For additional information on the committee meeting, InformED (the LESC newsletter) contains short stories on some agenda items and is usually available a few days before the meeting at https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LESC/Newsletter. The committee meeting can be streamed online at http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/harmony and reports discussed during the meeting are available under handouts at https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LESC/Committee_Information.
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