Enchantment State News

The State of New Mexico has collaborated with public and private entities to provide access for remote learning to students throughout the state.

The New Mexico Public Education Department reported in a press release that efforts were made to provide Internet access to areas of the state without it. It was also made affordable to financially struggling families. 

In addition, thousands of laptops have been handed out to students to ensure education can move forward amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Education Department with the Department of Information Technology with state partners have provided 1,250 Wi-Fi hotspots to underserved and unserved communities. They have also worked with providers to make it more affordable and used federal funding to ensure internet access. The hotspots are comprised of 550 fixed hotspots and 700 mobile hotspots on Navajo Nation land.

The press release also reported the Public Education Agency with NM Indian Education Act funding was able to provide 6,282 Chromebooks to school children throughout the Navajo Nation. Both Chromebooks and hotspots will allow state educators to move forward from paper packets it was forced to resort to at the onset of the pandemic. 

In doing so, it also put all students on an equal access in terms of opportunity. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has also allocated $5.75 million from the Governor’s Emergency Educational Relief to help improve internet access. Districts and charters have budgeted more than $40 million in federal CARES Act funding as well.

“We are determined to equip New Mexico’s K-12 students with all the tools they need to succeed, even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic,” Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said, the press release reported. “We are leaving no potential funding source untapped, and we will continue to work with our partners in the private sector to strengthen our information technology infrastructure well into the future.”

Providers were unsung heroes in the efforts as the Department of Information Technology worked with internet providers to gain access for more students. After needs were determined, service providers stepped up with free or reduced-price offers based on data for both students and educators, the press release reported. 

T-Mobile offered to provide 12,747 free personal hotspots to students. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Taos County is offering free internet access to families during the pandemic. Verizon is also offering $20 devices to students while AT&T has a program for educators.

“All of the vendors have really stepped up,” PED education technology coordinator John Chadwick said, the press release reported.