Taos schools report higher Native reading scores, outline new Tiwa language policy in first reading

Taos Municipal Schools reported that Native American students in the district scored higher than the New Mexico average in reading, while district leaders presented a first reading of a policy to support Tiwa language instruction in district schools.

During a Jan. 22 presentation, Rosanne Gerbon, a presenter for Taos Municipal Schools, said the district’s Native American students scored 35% in reading proficiency on the most recent New Mexico assessment versus a statewide 25% for Native students. Gerbon said Taos’ graduation rate this year is 84% and that the district’s Native students scored about 11% in math proficiency compared with 12% statewide for Native students. “So here we have them now. We have our reading scores,” Gerbon told the board as she reviewed the district’s testing data.

The district’s first reading of a Tiwa language policy also took place at the meeting. Superintendent Dr. Layton introduced the policy and said the document is intended to “indicat[e] our continued support of our Native American students” by establishing a district program and a formal relationship with Taos Pueblo for Tiwa language instruction. Because the item was a first reading, the board did not vote on adoption; Layton said a second reading will be brought back at a later meeting.

Why it matters: District officials framed the reading scores and the language policy as part of an effort to sustain culturally responsive programming and to invest federal and district funds in Native student supports. Gerbon described several grant and funding lines that pay for Native-focused services, including an Indian Education formula grant and a two‑year Indian Education Act grant. She said the Indian Education formula grant “is 53,417” and that the two‑year Indian Education Act grant currently totals about “91,000,” and that those funds go directly to Native student programs.

Officials also highlighted attendance and chronic absenteeism as an urgent issue. Gerbon said districtwide attendance yields an 88% present rate, with an 11% absent rate and that chronic absenteeism for the district is recorded at roughly 45.79%. She said chronic absenteeism among Native American students in the district measured about 67%. Superintendent Layton and staff described expanded liaison staffing and salary increases intended to make the Native liaison positions sustainable and to provide certified Native‑language liaisons at secondary schools.

Supporting details: Gerbon said the district met with tribal government on Jan. 14 to review MOUs and planning for consultation. She described program changes including: increasing the Indian manager’s salary, hiring a Native American secondary certified liaison (with a second certified liaison close to hiring), and formalizing leave accommodations in attendance policy so students can participate in cultural doings without penalty.

On funding, Gerbon said Title I, Title II and Title IV funds support district services (amounts described in the district presentation), that Title III currently does not identify Native English learners in this district, and that Impact Aid funds are dedicated to Native student programs and are not to be reallocated to general operations. She also said the district applied annually for the Indian Education formula grant and that the district received a two‑year extension for an Indian Education Act grant.

Board follow-up and next steps: Board members asked whether every school site has space for liaisons; Dr. Layton and principals confirmed there are classroom and office spaces set aside at high school and other sites. The Tiwa language policy will return for a second reading on a future agenda, at which point the board can vote on formal adoption. District leaders said they will continue to report testing and attendance data at board meetings and to coordinate with tribal leadership on consultation and program MOUs.

Ending: District staff said they will return to the board with the Tiwa policy for a second reading and will continue to report quarterly on the student achievement and attendance metrics introduced at the meeting.