News Brief

01/01/13

New Mexico to Receive $25M From Feds for Early Learning

Taos News (NM) (01/01/13) Van Buren, Matthew

New Mexico will be one of 14 states to receive millions in federal "Race to the Top" education spending. The state Public Education Department (PED) said New Mexico will receive $25 million over the next four years as part of Race to the Top's Early Learning Challenge grant competition, which focuses on "improving early learning and development programs for young children," according to the U.S. Department of Education. According to New Mexico's application, the funds will be used to help develop a coordinated system of early learning and development in the state, including creating common program standards, prioritizing communities, and building an early learning data system to provide the public with data aimed at tracking and assessing students. The PED said literacy programs for students from pre-k through third grade will receive support as part of the award, and funding would begin arriving as early as February. "This is another huge victory for our students and schools," state Education Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera said in the PED announcement.

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