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Taos schools win NMPED compliance finding after special-education overhaul
Summary
Taos Municipal Schools’ special-education department received a March 13, 2026 annual-determination of 'meets requirements' from the New Mexico Public Education Department after expedited corrective work; the board praised staff and outlined a plan to reach 100% compliance on a remaining early-childhood transition indicator by March 2027.
Taos Municipal Schools’ special-education program received a favorable annual-determination letter from the New Mexico Public Education Department dated March 13, 2026, the district announced at its April 8 board meeting. Director of Exceptional Programs Dr. Malaki told the board the review found the district met most compliance indicators and corrected prior audit findings.
The determination covers indicators reviewed by PED, including child-find timelines and transition services. "Indicator 11, child find 60-day timeline for school year 24–25, we got a score of 100%. This means we are compliant," Dr. Malaki said, noting the district scored full marks on multiple measures and earned an overall LEA designation of "meets requirements."
Why it matters: The district had previously faced audit scrutiny of its exceptional programs. Board members and administrators credited a concentrated corrective effort over the past year that included revised processes, additional staffing and closer coordination with finance and human resources.
What the district reported: Dr. Malaki presented indicator-level results in the letter she shared with the board. Among highlights she reported at the meeting, the district scored 100% on child-find timelines and secondary-transition indicators; it received a 93.33% result on early-childhood transition and said staff will bring that figure to 100% by March 13, 2027. The department also reported no continuing audit findings for 2024 and timely submission of valid data.
Board response and next steps: Superintendent Leighton and board members praised the exceptional-programs staff. Leighton described the news as a team achievement and asked the board to recognize staff whose work contributed to the turnaround. Dr. Malaki outlined ongoing priorities: maintain timely IEP implementation, continue staff training, and complete planned early-childhood transition improvements.
The board did not take formal vote action on the report itself; Dr. Malaki asked the board to note the department’s commitment to continuous improvement and to support continuing training and interagency coordination.
