Committee advances bill to strengthen math instruction and early screening; phased rollout begins 2026

The Senate Education Committee advanced SB235, a multipronged effort to raise mathematics instruction, screening and intervention in New Mexico public schools.

Sponsor Senator Liz Soles told the committee the bill responds to chronically low math performance in the state and the Martinez‑Yazzie litigation findings. The committee substitute requires public schools to adopt math professional learning plans updated at least every two years, establishes a math instructional leadership framework at PED and directs PED to work with teacher preparation programs and districts on math specialist endorsements and certification for math coaches. The substitute removed mentions of “dyscalculia” to avoid conflating diagnostic categories with the broader intervention strategies the bill requires.

The bill also authorizes early screening and targeted interventions in elementary grades. Senator Soles said the measure delays many of the implementation deadlines until 2026 to let districts pilot reforms and allow PED time to assemble high‑quality materials and supports. “We’ve gotta make sure teachers have the skills and the resources of what kinds of things to do for students who are behind,” the sponsor said.

Higher education and provider organizations backed the bill. Higher Education Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said better early screeners for math difficulties can identify learners with persistent challenges and help them sooner; Albuquerque Teachers Federation and teacher groups urged attention to teacher workload and to keep testing and professional learning job‑embedded. The Math and Science Advisory Council and other stakeholders urged funding for sustained professional learning and recommended at least one math specialist per elementary school and inclusion of parent engagement and messaging about student progress.

The committee accepted a technical amendment removing three stray references to dyscalculia and gave the committee substitute a due‑pass recommendation. Committee leaders said the LESC will study details this summer and PED will seek early adopters and pilot districts to inform statewide rollout.

What happens next: SB235 advances with study and phased implementation; PED and LESC will refine tools, screener choices and funding needs before districts must meet all requirements in 2026.