This 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 within school policies. Key changes include the establishment of an online portal for reporting racially motivated incidents and racialized aggression, replacing the previous hotline system. The bill also expands the list of characteristics that cannot be used as a basis for discipline, including disability, home language, gender, family income level, and the use of protective hairstyles or cultural/religious headdresses.

Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for bilingual multicultural education programs to ensure they use the home or heritage language as a medium of instruction alongside English, emphasizing the importance of cultural history. It also creates a Black education liaison within the education department to focus on issues related to Black education and improve educational outcomes for Black students. The liaison will maintain an online reporting portal for incidents of racism or discrimination and will support school districts in creating equitable learning environments. Overall, the bill aims to foster 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