Judge rules against 180-day rule for schools in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Maybe this warm weather has you looking forward to summer vacation. Those typical plans changed for many families recently with a new rule – 180 days in the classroom for students statewide.
But those plans could be changing yet again because a judge just sided with more than half of our New Mexico school districts, deciding that rule is suspended, so to speak.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was perhaps the biggest proponent of requiring a minimum amount of school days, opposed to how many total hours students spent in school.
The New Mexico Public Education Department can absolutely appeal this judge’s ruling. But for now, leaders with our New Mexico School Superintendents Association says this is a win for our state, especially for schools in rural areas.
“One size doesn’t fit all in New Mexico,” said Stan Rounds, an executive director of the New Mexico School Superintendents Associations.
Leaders of more than 50 of New Mexico’s 89 school districts have some relief after a judge sided with them Monday to get rid of the state Public Education Department’s 180 school day rule.
“We felt like local districts, local boards of education, local communities, are the best prescribers of what their calendar does that works right in their community,” said Rounds.
The New Mexico School Superintendents Association sued PED over the rule which was set to go into effect this school year.
In the Ninth Judicial District, Judge Dustin Hunter decided Monday the rule contradicted state law which requires a certain number of instructional hours, not days.
“The rule seemed to change that it not only required the hours, but it required you to go 180 days. We didn’t think that was appropriate,” Rounds said.
A spokesperson for PED says they’re dissatisfied with the decision and “believes students can achieve better educational outcomes when we maximize learning opportunities.”
But Rounds claimed the 180 rule negatively impacted rural schools like the Cimarron district. It switched to four-day school weeks back in the 70s.
“Cimarron did it because bus distances are so far and the snow and things that happen in that community are so far and the need to provide food is significant. Getting supplies in and whatnot are difficult. Going to a four-day week met that and still served that district well,” said Rounds.
PED has 30 days to appeal the decision, and that spokesperson says they’re reviewing their next steps.
Monday’s decision also impacts teachers. Rounds says the 180 rule would have forced them to work on professional development on their own time, instead of during the school year.
He says even if PED does appeal, next school year will likely operate without the 180 requirement.
The New Mexico Public Education Department sent KOB 4 the following statement, Monday:
“The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) is dissatisfied with the most recent decision from the Ninth Judicial District Court. PED firmly believes that our students can achieve better educational outcomes when we maximize learning opportunities, as the Rule intended. PED is currently in the process of reviewing the decision for the purposes of determining the appropriate next steps.”