ACADEMICS / PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
Registration
Parents of new students to the New Mexico public school system should bring the child’s birth certificate and social security number as well as physician-signed proof of required immunizations. Other documents that will be required include proof of residency in the form of a utility bill, rental agreement, or mortgage papers. When applicable, parents or guardians must show proof of legal custody. Transcripts from previous schools or contact information to request transcripts will also be helpful. To be eligible to attend kindergarten in a public school, New Mexico state law requires a child to be five years of age prior to 12:01 a.m. on September 1 of the current school year. For more information or answers to specific questions about education in New Mexico, contact:
New Mexico Public Education Department
300 Don Gaspar Avenue
Santa Fe
505-827-5800
www.ped.state.nm.us
Immunizations
New Mexico state law requires immunizations for children attending public, private, and parochial elementary and secondary schools as well as students enrolled in early childhood education facilities and those attending licensed preschools or child care centers. Except for children who have been legally exempted, the requirements include the proper doses of immunizations for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B. Students who have begun the immunization process have one month after enrollment to comply or submit proof that series are ongoing. For more information on immunizations, contact your local school district or the state office:
New Mexico Department of Health
Vaccines for Children
505-827-2898
Toll Free Hotline
888-231-2367
www.health.state.nm.us/immunize
New Mexico School Health Manual
www.nmschoolhealthmanual.org
Assessment & Accountability
New Mexico school districts are required by law to publish an annual report card that provides data for the previous year. The New Mexico Public Education Department also prepares an annual Accountability Report that includes district data, which can be access online at the department’s website. Local report cards can be obtained from the local school district office. For more information, contact:
Assessment & Accountability
New Mexico Public Education Department
505-827-6683
www.ped.state.nm.us
New Mexico School & District Locator
Public & Private Schools
www.ped.state.nm.us/resources/personneldirectory/schoollocator.pdf
Educational Alternatives
New Mexico offers a wide range of alternatives to the traditional classroom and attendance schedules. The Alternative Education Unit is responsible for the rules and regulations that govern charter schools but also provides information and technical assistance to parents, community members, schools, and district personnel on alternative schools, charter schools, home schools, family schools, non-public or private schools, and the four-day school week. For more information on any of these programs, contact:
Alternative Education Unit
505-827-6576
http://sde.state.nm.us
Charter Schools
Characterized as public schools that operate more independently in many educational respects than traditional schools, charter schools are developed by one or more parents, teachers, or community members. These schools are authorized by the local school board to provide an alternative educational setting to parents and students in the public school system. Charter schools provide an opportunity to create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children. For more information on charter schools that may be available close to home, contact:
Alternative Education Unit
Charter Schools
505-827-6918
http://sde.state.nm.us
Home Schooling & Family Schools
New Mexico requires the home school operator to be the parent or legal guardian of the child and to have a high-school diploma or its equivalent. This person must also maintain a calendar that verifies schooling at least 180 days each year. The operator has to notify the secretary of education in writing within 30 days of establishing the home school. Home schooling is not considered to be accredited by the New Mexico Public Education Department but residents are able to continue home schooling indefinitely with annual renewals.
Home Schooling
505-827-6909
http://sde.state.nm.us
