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Education partners urge 'perseverance and progress,' call for stable funding and pay increases
Summary
A coalition of education groups told the Legislative Education Study Committee that New Mexico needs steady, predictable funding, higher minimum pay for teachers and support staff, and protections against federal funding volatility to sustain recent gains in schools.
Education advocates representing unions, school boards, superintendents, charter operators and parent groups outlined shared 2026 priorities to the Legislative Education Study Committee on the morning's agenda.
"Our title this year is perseverance and progress," a partners' representative told the committee, framing the groups' top message: maintain what works in New Mexico public education while addressing funding volatility and workforce shortages. The partners said they meet regularly to coordinate legislation and public outreach.
Bethany Jarrell, president of NEA New Mexico, said roughly 15% of New Mexico school budgets come from federal sources and urged stronger state commitments to shield districts from sudden federal changes. Jarrell proposed increasing the state's three-tiered minimum teacher salaries to $60,000, $70,000 and $80,000 (or 5%, whichever is greater) and defended local authority for calendars and policies.
NEA leaders also pressed for higher instructional-materials budgets and more stable student-transportation funding. Jennifer Trujillo, NEA vice president, urged protecting district operating reserves by ending "spend it or lose it" rules so districts can respond to enrollment shifts and emergencies.
Unions and AFT New Mexico asked the legislature to guarantee that no full-time public educator earns less than $30,000 and to adopt an 80/20 premium contribution model for health insurance to improve affordability for educators. "Providing public school employees with affordable health care coverage is a critical component in recruiting and retaining high-quality staff," AFT's Whitney Holland said.
The groups urged targeted supports for special education, bilingual and culturally responsive instruction, and investments in community schools. NEA proposed stipends for special-education teachers and case managers and recommended dedicated weekly planning time.
Speakers repeatedly tied these requests to Martinez‑Yazzie obligations, saying the state must fund staffing and services needed to provide an equitable and sufficient education for at-risk students. The partners recommended continued collaboration with committee staff during the interim to refine proposals and identify funding pathways.
The committee paused the session for a lunch break and scheduled further work in the afternoon.
