Albuquerque Public Schools has finalized a nearly $1.5 billion budget. It reflects a nearly 14% hike in state funding, even though enrollment is dropping. The new money is in response to a landmark education equity ruling.
Last year’s Yazzie-Martinez ruling required lawmakers to direct more funding to student populations the state has long underserved: students with disabilities, English language learners, Native American students and students from low-income backgrounds.
For APS, that means an additional $34 million for those at-risk students for the coming year, almost half of which will go to shrinking class sizes. The money will also go to things like wrap-around services, community schools and the district’s newcomer program.
There’s another brand new pot of money – nearly $19 million – for programs to extend the amount of time students spend in school.
The budget now has to be approved by the state Public Education Department.
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