New Mexico School Climate Policy

NEW MEXICO 

The total number of students enrolled in New Mexico public schools for the 2021-2022 school year is 318,613. New Mexico has 89 school districts that support 877 public schools. Approximately 69% of students in New Mexico are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. New Mexico has state policies directly addressing school climate such as public schools receiving a letter grade based on several indicators. State policies also include support for physical safety measures, bullying prevention, respect for diversity, and social-emotional support/education. A recent 2020 policy requires all school security personnel to have up-to-date firearm training and are allowed to carry firearms on school property after passing a physical and psychological evaluation. New Mexico also has a policy that addresses preparing students for digital citizenship. 

Safety

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.19.8.7 Definitions.

Provides a definition of what a school survey is and the domains which it analyzes

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-19/part-8/6-19-8-7/

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.19.8.8 Requirements.

Public schools will learn a letter grade (A-F) based on a number of different indicators, one of them being school surveys

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-19/part-8/6-19-8-8/

 


Who does this protect? Students, Staff and Administrators

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

New Mexico Statutes 22-35-2. Definitions.

Provides a definition for the terms bullying and cyberbullying as well as the behaviors that are associated with these actions. Also defines the term progressive discipline and lists examples of what it is 

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-35/section-22-35-2/

 New Mexico asks schools to develop and implement procedures to prevent bullying and harassment behavior and the consequences of such behavior. Policies also explain that procedures are needed for reporting an incidence of bullying and investigating it as well as how this policy will be communicated

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.7.8 Bullying Prevention Policies – Adoption and Enforcement.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-7/6-12-7-8/

  • New Mexico Statutes 22-35-3. Bullying prevention policies; adoption and enforcement.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-35/section-22-35-3/

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.7.9 Bullying Prevention programs-establishment.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-7/6-12-7-9/

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.7.10 Reporting requirements.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-7/6-12-7-10/

 

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.7.8 Bullying Prevention Policies – Adoption and Enforcement.

Policies will be enforced:

  • on its property, including electronic communication on or with the use of its property
  • at school or district-sponsored events
  • on any school-sponsored transportation

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-7/6-12-7-8/


Who does this protect? Students, Teachers

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

New Mexico schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies and explain drills that need to take place during the school year

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.6.7 Definition of Emergency Operation Plan.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-6/6-12-6-7/

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.6.8 Requirements for wellness policy.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-6/6-12-6-8/

  • New Mexico Statutes 22-13-14. Emergency drills; requirement.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-13/section-22-13-14/

New Mexico Statutes 22-10A-40. School security personnel; definitions; required training.

Before an offer of employment, the school district shall require from each potential school security personnel successful completion of school security personnel training and proof of up-to-date firearm training. They will be allowed to carry firearms on school property after they pass a physical and psychological evaluation.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-10a/section-22-10a-40/

New Mexico Statutes 30-7-2.1 – Unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises.

Explain who is exempt from carrying a deadly weapon or firearm on the school premise. In addition, defines the school premise.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-30/article-7/section-30-7-2-1/


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.6.8 Requirements.

Each school district and charter school shall develop and implement a policy that addresses student and school employee wellness through a coordinated school health approach.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-6/6-12-6-8/

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.29.1.7 Definitions.

Response to intervention is a multi-tiered organizational framework that uses a set of increasingly intensive academic or behavioral supports, matched to student needs, as a system for making educational programming and eligibility decisions. In New Mexico, this framework is called the three-tier model of student intervention. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-29/part-1/6-29-1-7/

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.29.1.9 Procedural Requirements. Explains the three-tier model of student intervention. Explains what each tier of this model involves.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-29/part-1/6-29-1-9/

New Mexico Statutes 22-35-2. Definitions.

Disciplinary action may include restorative practices, counseling, mental health counseling, and anger management.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-35/section-22-35-2/


Who does this protect? Students,Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Teaching/Learning

New Mexico provides students with disabilities the accommodations and resources they need to have an appropriate education.

  • New Mexico Statutes 22-13-5 – Special education.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-13/section-22-13-5/

  • New Mexico Statutes 22-13-7 – Special education; responsibility.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-13/section-22-13-7/

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.31.2.10 – Identification, Evaluations, and Eligibility Determinations.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-31/part-2/6-31-2-10/

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.31.2.11 – Educational Services for Children with Disabilities. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-31/part-2/6-31-2-11/

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.31.2.12 – Educational Services for Gifted Children. 

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-31/part-2/6-31-2-12/

New Mexico Statutes 22-23-1.1 – Legislative findings.

The state’s bilingual multicultural education program goals are for all students, including English language learners, too;

  • Become bilingual and bi-literate in English and a second language, including Spanish, a Native American language, where a written form exists and there is tribal approval or another language.
  • Meet state academic content standards and benchmarks in all subject areas.

Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

New Mexico Statutes 22-13-1.1. Graduation requirements.

Service learning and pre-apprenticeship programs will be offered as electives, and students need credits from this in order to graduate.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-13/section-22-13-1-1/


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Interpersonal Relationships

New Mexico Statutes 22-35-2. Definitions.

Recognizes that bullying can be based on a student’s actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, spousal affiliation, physical or cognitive disability, or any other distinguishing characteristic; or association with a person, or group with any person, with one or more of the actual or perceived distinguishing characteristics. 

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-35/section-22-35-2/

 New Mexico Statutes 22-23A-2 – Purpose of act.

Explains the purpose of the Indian Education Act.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-23a/section-22-23a-2/

 New Mexico Statutes 22-23B-2 – Purpose.

Explains the purpose of the Hispanic Education act.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-23b/section-22-23b-2/

New Mexico Statutes 22-31-2 – Applicability; nondiscrimination.

Each public school shall operate its athletic program in a manner that does not discriminate against students or staff based on gender.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-31/section-22-31-2/


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

New Mexico Statutes 22-13-33. Appointing a point of contact person for certain students.

The point of contact will be responsible for ensuring that other school staff and teachers have access to training and resources about the educational challenges and needs of system-involved youth, including trauma-informed practices and the impact of trauma on learning.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-13/section-22-13-33/

New Mexico Statutes 22-2B-7. Culturally and linguistically diverse student populations; professional development for school personnel.

Technical assistance and professional development programs shall be aligned with state academic content Standard, benchmarks, and performance Standard for bilingual multicultural education and shall meet school district and charter school educational plans related to bilingual multicultural education, Indian education, and Hispanic education. Explains what these professional development programs will be focusing on.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-2b/section-22-2b-7/

New Mexico Statutes 22-35-4. Bullying prevention programs establishment.

Following the adoption of a bullying prevention policy, each public school shall:

  • Establish an annual bullying prevention program for students included in New Mexico’s health education content Standard with benchmarks and performance Standard.
  • Provide annual training on bullying prevention to all employees and volunteers who have significant contact with students.
  • Incorporate information on the bullying prevention policy into new employee training.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-35/section-22-35-4/


New Mexico Administrative Code 6.65.2.8 Requirements for Program Design and Implementation. All statewide, PED, charter school, and public school district professional development programs and activities shall address and align with a Standard that is listed in the policy

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-65/part-2/6-65-2-8/


Who does this protect? Staff, Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.29.1.9 Procedural Requirements.

Explains the three-tier model of student intervention. Explains what each tier of this model involves.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-29/part-1/6-29-1-9/

New Mexico Statutes 22-35-2. Definitions.

Disciplinary action may include restorative practices, counseling, mental health counseling, and anger management.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-35/section-22-35-2/


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Institutional Environments

New Mexico Statutes 22-2D-3. Programs; purpose; functions.

A family and youth resources program in any public school in the state provides an intermediary for students and their families in public schools to access social and health care services.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-2d/section-22-2d-3/

New Mexico Statutes 22-5-16. Advisory school councils; creation; duties. The school council will;


Who does this protect? Students, Parents

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

New Mexico schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies and explain drills that need to take place during the school year.

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.6.7 Definition of Emergency Operation Plan.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-6/6-12-6-7/

  • New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.6.8 Requirements for wellness policy.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-12/part-6/6-12-6-8/

  • New Mexico Statutes 22-13-14. Emergency drills; requirement.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-13/section-22-13-14/

New Mexico Statutes 22-10A-40. School security personnel; definitions; required training.

Before an offer of employment, the school district shall require from each potential school security personnel successful completion of school security personnel training and proof of up-to-date firearm training. They will be allowed to carry firearms on school property after they pass a physical and psychological evaluation.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-22/article-10a/section-22-10a-40/

New Mexico Statutes 30-7-2.1 – Unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises.

Explain who is exempt from carrying a deadly weapon or firearm on the school premise. In addition, defines the school premise.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2021/chapter-30/article-7/section-30-7-2-1/


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

 

There is no current policy surrounding Social Inclusion in the state of New Mexico. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Social Media

New Mexico Administrative Code 6.29.6.10 Content Standard with Benchmarks and Performance Standard for Health Education Grades 9-12.

Benchmarks require students to critically analyze and evaluate the information they get from technology:

  • Benchmark 2- evaluate the effect of media and other factors on personal, family, peer, and community health.
  • Benchmark 3- evaluate the impact of technology on personal, family, peer, and community health.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/new-mexico/title-6/chapter-29/part-6/6-29-6-10/

Media Literacy Best Practices (House Memorial 49). Asks the Public Education Department (PED) and local school districts to develop best practices and to offer media literacy, defined as “the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, develop, produce and interpret media, and it encompasses the foundational skills that lead to digital citizenship.” Digital citizenship “requires a diverse set of skills related to current technology and social media use and includes the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior.”

https://medialiteracynow.org/your-state-legislation-2/new-mexico-legislation/


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in New Mexico. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relationships in New Mexico. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

Sources include: nasbe.org and childtrends.org