The bill amends existing statutes related to public education in New Mexico, specifically focusing on enhancing safety and support services for multicultural students. It broadens the elements of discrimination or disparate treatment that are subject to discipline by prohibiting such actions based on a student's race, religion, culture, disability, home language, gender, family income level, and the use of protective hairstyles or cultural/religious headdresses. Additionally, it establishes an online portal for reporting racially motivated incidents and racialized aggression, ensuring that submissions through this portal are not considered public records. The bill also emphasizes the importance of involving parents, school personnel, and students in the development of discipline policies and mandates that all school discipline policies include a specific prohibition against racialized aggression.

Furthermore, the bill revises the requirements for bilingual multicultural education programs to ensure they address the educational needs of linguistically and culturally diverse students. It allows the use of home or heritage languages as mediums of instruction while also emphasizing the importance of English proficiency. The Hispanic Education Act is updated to focus on the academic success of Hispanic students and the preservation of New Mexico's Spanish heritage. The bill also establishes a Black education liaison within the department to address issues related to Black education and improve educational outcomes for Black students, including the creation of an online reporting portal for incidents of racism or racial discrimination. Overall, the bill aims to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students in New Mexico.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 22-23-6, 22-23B-2, 22-23B-5, 22-23C-5