During the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education meeting on September 17, 2025, significant changes regarding the assessment tools used for monitoring early reading skills were discussed. The meeting highlighted the recent merger of Istation and Emera, which has led to a transition in the assessment methods utilized by schools across New Mexico.

The district had previously relied on the Istation assessment tool for tracking progress in early reading skills for students in kindergarten through third grade. However, with the merger, Istation is no longer available, and the district is now adopting Emera as the new assessment tool. This change necessitated a request to update interim goals 1.1 and 1.2 to reflect the new assessment method while maintaining the same performance targets until further alignment can be evaluated.

Board member Dominguez raised questions about the timing of the merger and the communication surrounding it. The district administration confirmed that they were notified of the merger in June 2025, although the exact date was not specified. This lack of timely communication was noted as a concern, as it could lead to misunderstandings about the assessment transition.

Importantly, the board was reassured that there would be no financial implications associated with this transition. The administration confirmed that the switch to Emera would not incur additional costs, alleviating concerns about budget impacts.

The discussion underscored the importance of clear communication within the district regarding significant changes that affect educational assessments. As schools prepare to implement Emera, the board will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this new tool in supporting early literacy development among students.