On Wednesday, Chairman Crystalyne Curley and council delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty made a compelling case for adequate funding for Navajo students at the New Mexico Government to Government Indian Education Summit, emphasizing a student-count-based formula.
This annual summit discusses critical issues impacting Native education and serves as a vital platform for New Mexico tribes to highlight the pressing educational needs of Native American students statewide.
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During the event, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham sought input and recommendations from tribal leaders on several topics, including the formula for distributing education funding, literacy initiatives, special education, the state’s Indian Education Act and other important education issues.
Speaker Curley strongly advocated for a funding formula based on student numbers, which would increase funding for every Navajo student in New Mexico. State officials noted that there are more than 26,000 Navajo students in the state, compared to more than 10,000 from all other tribes combined.
“The Navajo Nation has many students throughout New Mexico and the funding formula must reflect that. A student-funded formula is critical to providing Navajo students with the resources they need to effectively excel in school. This helps create equity in funding by addressing unique needs based on student enrollment. Our precious children already face many challenges in many ways. We will continue to work with the state to ensure our students have more resources,” said Chairman Curley.
Last year, the state Legislature considered a bill to establish an Indian Education Trust Fund to help meet the state’s obligations to Navajo students.
“The future of our children depends on the investments we make in their education today,” said Rep. Crotty. “Our Navajo students deserve the same opportunities and resources as any other student in New Mexico. It is time for us to come together to ensure that every Navajo child can succeed.”
She also called for consultation between the Navajo Nation and the state’s Public Education Department to revise the annual state accountability plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act. This collaboration would help the Navajo Nation set priorities at the state level and ensure proper advocacy for Navajo student representation.
The 25th Navajo Nation Council will continue to urge state lawmakers, educators and stakeholders to prioritize Navajo students in future funding decisions, with the goal of closing the achievement gap and securing a better future for Native youth.
About the Author: “Levi \”Calm Before the Storm\” Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded the Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print category\/ online by the Native American Journalists Association. He is a member of the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net.
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