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Public Education Department presses Martinez Yazzie priorities; asks for $14M to maintain unit value and new program funding
Summary
The Public Education Secretary briefed legislators on FY27 requests tied to the Martinez Yazzie action plan, highlighting literacy coaches, MLSS training, help for bilingual/heritage languages, accreditation support and a $14M need to maintain the unit value; PED warned delaying funding would impede implementation.
The Public Education Department presented its FY27 public school support budget to the committee and framed the request around implementing the Martinez Yazzie action plan.
"The entire budget is really about serving our Martinez and Yazzie students," the secretary said, flagging several new or recurring priorities: statewide literacy coaches for low‑performing elementary schools, math pathway development for high school, Multi‑Tiered System of Supports (MLSS) training, culturally and linguistically relevant assessment development, expanded bilingual and heritage language instructional materials, in‑person professional development including classroom technology and AI, and support for school accreditation work.
The department also told lawmakers that current projections based on fortieth‑day counts suggest a $14.0 million need to maintain the current unit value and fund K‑12 plus. The secretary said PED is proposing to move many previously nonrecurring items into recurring appropriations so school districts and charters have more predictable funding.
On teacher compensation and benefits, the secretary said a 1% compensation increase for school employees costs about $35.7 million, and a proposed 80/20 employer insurance split would cost an estimated $73.2 million. The department asked legislators to consider those figures as they weigh recurring commitments.
Committee members pressed on program evaluation, reporting for virtual programs, cybersecurity compliance and whether some reauthorizations are appropriate. PED responded that it has begun data‑collection changes to require districts and charters to report which students are virtual versus in person and that it is reviewing virtual program contracts for compliance and educator licensure.
The secretary asked lawmakers not to delay funding of items tied to the court‑mandated action plan, saying many stakeholders had provided input during plan development and that delays would slow services for impacted students. Lawmakers agreed to follow up with additional oversight briefings and possible legislation.
