Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed four education bills on Mar. 9, making permanent several years of investment and progress in New Mexico’s public schools. The new laws address literacy instruction, math teacher preparation, special education services, and school employee insurance, all of which passed the legislature with strong bipartisan support.
The passage of these bills is significant for students and educators across the state. “Today marks another milestone in changing the trajectory of public education in New Mexico,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “Reading proficiency is up 10 percentage points since 2022. Teacher pay is 30% higher than when I took office. We moved that needle substantially, and we’re not done. Thank you to every lawmaker who invested in New Mexico’s students this session.”
Senate Bill 37, known as the High Quality Literacy Instruction Act, requires evidence-based structured literacy instruction statewide and mandates K-3 reading assessments along with parental notification if a child struggles with reading. The bill also assigns literacy coaches to schools throughout New Mexico. Since 2019, $60.4 million has been invested in state literacy programs, training over 10,000 educators in evidence-based methods. Reading proficiency among grades three through eight has increased by ten percentage points since 2022, with notable gains among Native American students (13 points), economically disadvantaged students (12 points), Hispanic students (10 points), and English learners (8 points). Nearly half of elementary and middle school students now read at grade level compared to about one-third three years ago.
Other legislation includes SB 29, which raises math coursework requirements for teachers and introduces early math screening for young students; SB 64, which formally establishes the Office of Special Education within the Public Education Department; and HB 47, which standardizes employer insurance contributions for school employees at a minimum of eighty percent regardless of salary.
These legislative actions reflect ongoing priorities set by the New Mexico State Executive branch under Governor Lujan Grisham’s leadership according to the official website. The executive branch operates from Room 400 on the fourth floor of the State Capitol at 490 Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe according to the official website. The administration promotes public service careers to advance its goals according to the official website and prioritizes efforts in education as well as economic advancement and community sustainability according to the official website.
The executive team features Michelle Lujan Grisham as governor alongside Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales and cabinet secretaries responsible for health and education according to the official website. All operations are focused on serving communities throughout New Mexico according to the official website.
Looking ahead, a new $30 million literacy institute modeled after successful programs in other states is expected to be completed by late 2026 and will serve up to five hundred students at a time.
