The Proposed Funding Formula
(by American Institutes for Research)
Threatens Bilingual Education Programs in New Mexico
The recommended formula threatens to wipe out bilingual education in New Mexico in the following ways:
- Instead of providing funding for bilingual programs such as dual language programs and heritage language programs (as is currently the case), AIR proposes that there be a single formula for ELLs with no bilingual education program options.
- In place of funding of programs under the BMEA, AIR proposes that there be a minimal weight of approximately 0.099 assigned to English language learners but not for other students now in bilingual programs.
- Even the minimal resources generated by the 0.099 proposal are not guaranteed to be used for English language learner students but would become part of block grant funds to school districts. Bilingual programs would then be pitted against other programs for survival.
- AIR has indirectly acknowledged this. It wrote that: “One difference in this approach [the recommended formula] is that the number of students [currently] counted under bilingual education reflects a programmatic decision made by the district as opposed to a pure reflection of raw pupil need.” In other words, AIR’s proposed funding formula does not include funding for bilingual programs; if school districts want to have bilingual/multicultural programs they should get no state help to pay for them.
- AIR, an out-of-state research group has chosen to totally disregard New Mexico’s long history of support for bilingual programs and has discounted the importance of education programs that preserve, develop, and maintain Spanish and Native American languages and cultures in New Mexico.
A Petition to Preserve New Mexico’s Bilingual Education Programs
We the undersigned are concerned that the new public schools funding formula will not guarantee adequate funding for bilingual education programs in New Mexico. We the undersigned request that the New Mexico Bilingual Education Act be preserved and that adequate funding be guaranteed to support: Dual Language Education, Maintenance Bilingual, Language Revitalization and Heritage Language Programs.
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