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Think New Mexico
4 days ago
Think New Mexico

This afternoon, our Education Reform Director Mandi Torrez provided public comment to the Legislative Education Study Committee about the need for rigorous & relevant graduation requirements that ensure students have the knowledge & skills they need for college & career.

Specifically, we recommend including a semester of financial literacy, two credits of world language, and two credits of career and technical education in the state's high school graduation requirements.

NM ranks 47th in the U.S. in financial literacy. A recent poll found 98% of New Mexicans think it is important or very important for students to learn personal finance. We must give students the education they need to budget, save, and avoid costly financial mistakes.

Under current law, students only need one credit of either a world language (language other than English) or one credit of career & technical education in order to graduation. Yet both subjects are vitally important for students' futures.

Did you know that 60% of jobs with the highest demand for bilingualism do not require a college degree? Did you know many top colleges (including UNM) require two credits of world language? In a globalized world, language skills are essential for both college and career.

A U.S. Department of Education found that NM students who take at least two career & technical education courses in one area graduate at rates above 90%. From health care to teaching, CTE is essential for student success and to build our future workforce. All students should take CTE. ... See MoreSee Less

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❤️financial literacy ❤️ Thank you for your advocacy for our future!

Self-reliance should be Advocated in Every Family

100% Agree!

Isn’t the legislative education committee headed by a racist?

Think New Mexico
2 weeks ago
Think New Mexico

This #GivingTuesday, we hope you'll consider supporting Think New Mexico's work to develop and advocate for enduring, effective, evidence-based public policy solutions that benefit all New Mexicans. ... See MoreSee Less

This #GivingTuesday, we hope youll consider supporting Think New Mexicos work to develop and advocate for enduring, effective, evidence-based public policy solutions that benefit all New Mexicans.
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Think New Mexico
2 weeks ago
Think New Mexico

Yet another scandal illustrating the serious problems with New Mexico's broken capital outlay process. Because funds are appropriated without any advance vetting or planning, taxpayer dollars are diverted to non-essential projects while real needs go unmet.
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Turf wars: A tale of deception and misused tax dollars

www.krqe.com

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – It is a half-million-dollar scheme arranged by high-ranking public officials. “In my opinion, there’s a lot of people to blame,” said Senate Finance Commi…
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That's why I vote no on these projects.

Think New Mexico
3 weeks ago
Think New Mexico

Kansas just became the 16th state to add a one-semester financial literacy class to its high school graduation requirements -- and 15 other states include financial literacy to be incorporated into another required course like economics. Time for New Mexico to join this rapidly growing movement!

"How many times have we seen or heard or friends and peers say they wish they would have learned what to do with their finances in high school? High school is the perfect time to learn about how a loan works, when and how to open a savings account, and possibly how to file a simple tax return.

How many of our friends have said they wished high school taught them more life skills like this instead of algebra?"
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Changes to Kansas high school diploma requirements are wise moves for graduates' futures

www.cjonline.com

The Kansas State Board of Education approved a new set of graduation requirements that students will need to meet before being granted a diploma.
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Think New Mexico
3 weeks ago
Think New Mexico

We are delighted to welcome Mandi Torrez as Think New Mexico's new Education Reform Director!

Mandi is New Mexico's 2020 Teacher of the Year. She has a decade of experience teaching third and fourth grade in the Bernalillo Public Schools, and she was also recognized as that district's 2019 Teacher of the Year. Mandi holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a Master's in Integrated Elementary and Special Education. Before becoming a teacher, she worked at the Farmington Daily Times as the News Editor and as Copy Editor.

Prior to joining Think New Mexico, Mandi served as Teacher Liaison at the New Mexico Public Education Department, and she has experience advocating at the state legislature as a New Mexico Senior Policy Fellow with Teach Plus New Mexico, a policy and leadership training network for teachers.

We are excited that Mandi will be leading Think New Mexico's major new effort to rethink New Mexico's public schools and lift up student performance and outcomes, particularly for the at-risk children who make up nearly three out of four students in our schools. ... See MoreSee Less

We are delighted to welcome Mandi Torrez as Think New Mexicos new Education Reform Director! Mandi is New Mexicos 2020 Teacher of the Year. She has a decade of experience teaching third and fourth grade in the Bernalillo Public Schools, and she was also recognized as that districts 2019 Teacher of the Year. Mandi holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a Masters in Integrated Elementary and Special Education. Before becoming a teacher, she worked at the Farmington Daily Times as the News Editor and as Copy Editor. Prior to joining Think New Mexico, Mandi served as Teacher Liaison at the New Mexico Public Education Department, and she has experience advocating at the state legislature as a New Mexico Senior Policy Fellow with Teach Plus New Mexico, a policy and leadership training network for teachers. We are excited that Mandi will be leading Think New Mexicos major new effort to rethink New Mexicos public schools and lift up student performance and outcomes, particularly for the at-risk children who make up nearly three out of four students in our schools.
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thinknewmexico
This #GivingTuesday, we hope you'll consider suppo This #GivingTuesday, we hope you'll consider supporting Think New Mexico's work to develop and advocate for enduring, effective, evidence-based public policy solutions that benefit all New Mexicans. #GivingTuesday2022
We are delighted to welcome Mandi Torrez as Think We are delighted to welcome Mandi Torrez as Think New Mexico's new Education Reform Director! Mandi is New Mexico's 2020 Teacher of the Year. She has a decade of experience teaching third and fourth grade in the Bernalillo Public Schools, and she was also recognized as that district's 2019 Teacher of the Year. Mandi holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a Master's in Integrated Elementary and Special Education. Before becoming a teacher, she worked at the Farmington Daily Times as the News Editor and as Copy Editor. Prior to joining Think New Mexico, Mandi served as Teacher Liaison at the Public Education Department, and she has experience advocating at the state legislature as a New Mexico Senior Policy Fellow with Teach Plus, a policy and leadership training network for teachers. We are excited that Mandi will be leading Think New Mexico's major new effort to rethink New Mexico's public schools and lift up student performance and outcomes, particularly for the at-risk children who make up nearly three out of four students in our schools.
We are so grateful to the ten extremely generous N We are so grateful to the ten extremely generous New Mexicans who put together a pool of challenge grants totaling $165,000 and to the 404 New Mexicans who helped us more than match that challenge! Including both the challenge grants and your matching contributions, during this year's online fundraising campaign between October 17-28, 2022 you helped us raise $329,986, which is more than 45% of Think New Mexico’s annual budget. We are especially pleased to welcome our 65 first-time supporters. Since Think New Mexico was founded in 1999, we have always worked hard to keep our fundraising expenses to an absolute minimum. That’s why we have never employed a professional fundraiser. This strategy has succeeded thanks to all of you who give so generously during our annual two-week fund drive and make it possible for Think New Mexico’s small staff to dedicate most of our time to our policy research and advocacy work.
Happy Halloween, New Mexico! Happy Halloween, New Mexico!
Three extremely generous New Mexicans who believe Three extremely generous New Mexicans who believe strongly in Think New Mexico's work have put together a pool of challenge grants totaling $65,000 - now we need to raise another $65,000 by Friday, October 28 at 11:59 p.m. in order to meet this ambitious challenge! In addition, another supporter has offered a separate $30,000 challenge grant that must be matched with contributions from new donors, new Monthly Amigos (monthly donors), or returning donors who haven't given to Think New Mexico in at least five years. All of these contributions will be matched 2:1, meaning that every $1 from a new donor, new monthly donor, or returning donor will raise $3 to help support our work. The financial support we receive during the next two weeks will support Think New Mexico's major new initiative to rethink New Mexico's public schools, which was written up in a front-page article in the Albuquerque Journal yesterday. We hope that you will help us meet this ambitious fundraising challenge by donating online or mailing in a check - visit our website to donate. Thank you!
During last night's gubernatorial campaign, both c During last night's gubernatorial campaign, both candidates committed to vetoing any legislation that would bring back the food tax. With New Mexico families struggling to keep up with rapidly rising food costs, it's great to hear this bipartisan agreement to take the food tax off the table! The candidates responded to the question "Would you sign a bill bringing back the food tax?" Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham: "Absolutely not. It's one of the most regressive taxes in the history of the state." Mark Ronchetti: "Absolutely no. We don't need any more tax increases."
We are excited to announce that Think New Mexico h We are excited to announce that Think New Mexico has just released a new policy report that lays out a sweeping ten point plan with 30 separate legislative recommendations to improve the performance of New Mexico’s struggling public schools! You can read the report and find out more details about our recommendations on the Education Reform section of our website at www.thinknewmexico.org
Happy Indigenous People's Day! Indigenous People Happy Indigenous People's Day! Indigenous People’s Day has been recognized as a statewide holiday in New Mexico since 2019. #indigenouspeoplesday
New Mexico legislators keep talking about bringing New Mexico legislators keep talking about bringing back the regressive food tax. Meanwhile, the rest of the nation is moving rapidly in the opposite direction. Just 13 states currently tax food, down from 17 in 2003, and two of those states recently passed laws to phase out their food taxes over the next few years. It’s time to take the food tax off the table!
As you make your decision about who you are going As you make your decision about who you are going to support in this year's legislative and gubernatorial elections, we encourage you to ask your candidates where they stand on Think New Mexico’s policy initiatives! For example, we encourage you to ask your candidates: "Would you support legislation to maximize the amount of New Mexico’s education budget that is spent in the classroom, rather than in school district central administrative offices?" Visit our website for more information on how to contact your legislative and gubernatorial candidates:: https://www.thinknewmexico.org/find-out-where-your-candidates-stand-on-think-new-mexicos-policy-reforms/ Candidates are more likely to support policy reforms like these if their voters are asking about them. Many thanks for your help!
As you make your decision about who you are going As you make your decision about who you are going to support in this year's legislative and gubernatorial elections, we encourage you to ask your candidates where they stand on Think New Mexico’s policy initiatives! For example, we encourage you to ask your candidates: "Would you support a merit-based process to prioritize and fully fund the state’s most urgently needed infrastructure projects?" Visit our website for more information on how to contact your legislative and gubernatorial candidates:: https://www.thinknewmexico.org/find-out-where-your-candidates-stand-on-think-new-mexicos-policy-reforms/ Candidates are more likely to support policy reforms like these if their voters are asking about them. Many thanks for your help!
As you make your decision about who you are going As you make your decision about who you are going to support in this year's legislative and gubernatorial elections, we encourage you to ask your candidates where they stand on Think New Mexico’s policy initiatives! For example, we encourage you to ask your candidates: "Would you support legislation to make financial literacy a high school graduation requirement?" Visit our website for more information on how to contact your legislative and gubernatorial candidates:: https://www.thinknewmexico.org/find-out-where-your-candidates-stand-on-think-new-mexicos-policy-reforms/ Candidates are more likely to support policy reforms like these if their voters are asking about them. Many thanks for your help!
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