New Mexico’s Yazzie/Martinez draft plan draws criticism from Indigenous education advocates

Indigenous education experts and advocates criticized New Mexico’s draft action plan to address the Yazzie/Martinez court ruling, saying it lacks detail and meaningful community input, according to ICT. Regis Pecos, former governor of Cochiti Pueblo and co-director of the Leadership Institute at Santa Fe Indian School, said during a five-hour gathering north of Albuquerque that “we may be stuck with something that is unconscionable” if the Public Education Department does not make changes before submitting the final plan to the court in early November.

The 2018 Yazzie/Martinez decision found the state was violating its constitutional duty to provide adequate education to Native American and low-income students, English language learners and students with disabilities. Advocates said the department has not fully incorporated public feedback collected over several years, including at statewide meetings held in August, according to ICT.