Government Affairs

The APS Government Affairs Team is responsible for facilitating the relationship between government entities and Albuquerque Public Schools.

 The Government Affairs Team works as a liaison between APS and the federal, state, county, and city government offices, as well as countless other community and professional organizations. 

The Office of Government Affairs supports the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education's vision for improved student outcomes by advancing legislative, regulatory, and funding priorities that reflect the values of the APS community. Through policy analysis, strategic partnerships, and engagement with local, state, tribal, and federal leaders, the office aligns public policy and resources with the Board's Student Outcomes Focused Governance framework and the Superintendent's strategic priorities to support what APS students should know and be able to do.

We welcome feedback regarding issues impacting our students, staff families, and the greater community. Let us know your thoughts using our feedback form.

2026 APS Legislative Agenda

The 2026 Legislative Session has adjourned sine die. The APS Legislative Agenda served as the district’s roadmap for advancing its legislative priorities. Learn more about the APS Legislative Agenda below.  

Elementary School Redesign

As New Mexico continues to invest in the future of its students, Albuquerque Public Schools is prioritizing innovative, research-based approaches that strengthen the earliest years of learning and expand high-quality opportunities across the K–12 continuum. Albuquerque Public Schools is seeking legislative support to enhance early learning and redesign elementary education. APS requests continued legislative investment in the Transformational Opportunity Pilot Schools (TOPS) and the implementation of promising practices, such as Genius Hour, to increase student engagement, creativity, and well-being. APS also requests legislative funding through the GRO fund for high-quality out-of-school and summer programs in collaboration with community organizations. Additionally, APS is committed to expanding Pre-K and early childhood readiness initiatives and requests legislative support to ensure that every child starts school prepared for long-term success.

  Middle School Redesign

Building on statewide efforts to improve academic outcomes and in alignment with our district goals and guardrails, Albuquerque Public Schools is advancing a comprehensive strategy to elevate middle school teaching and learning. Albuquerque Public Schools requests targeted legislative funding to strengthen middle school redesign through the Next Education Workforce model, including expanded professional development, recruitment incentives, and aligned math initiatives that support teachers and improve student proficiency. APS also seeks legislative support via GRO funding for high-dosage tutoring and other promising practices that provide individualized, evidence-based learning acceleration to ensure all students receive the instructional depth and team-based support they need to thrive in math and across core academic areas.

 High School Redesign

To prepare every student for a successful transition from high school to college, career, and community life, Albuquerque Public Schools is accelerating its systemwide approach to career-connected learning and whole-child support. Albuquerque Public Schools requests dedicated legislative funding to advance the Academies of Albuquerque high school redesign by expanding career-connected learning, including internships, apprenticeships, and industry-recognized credential pathways. This effort will also strengthen social-emotional learning, wraparound services, and family engagement through investments in counseling, social work, nursing, and cross-agency partnerships. This ongoing legislative investment will ensure APS students develop the skills, habits, mindsets, and real-world experiences needed to thrive in high-wage, high-demand careers and achieve lifelong success.

 Bilingual and Multicultural Education

In a district defined by linguistic richness and cultural diversity, Albuquerque Public Schools is committed to expanding programs that honor students’ identities while accelerating academic success. Albuquerque Public Schools requests recurring legislative funding to expand and strengthen bilingual, multicultural, and Indigenous language programs, including targeted investments in teacher pipelines, inclusive practices training, and professional development that equips educators across all settings to effectively support English Learners. This legislative investment will help APS close achievement gaps, enhance instructional quality, and preserve the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of Albuquerque’s students and families.

 Staff Recruitment and Retention

To ensure every student is taught and supported by a stable, skilled, and well-resourced workforce, Albuquerque Public Schools is prioritizing strategic investments in educator recruitment, development, and retention. Albuquerque Public Schools requests continued legislative support to strengthen the recruitment, development, and retention of high-quality educators and staff through continued investment in clinical residency models, stipends for teacher candidates, support staff for English Learners, and expanded incentives such as competitive salaries, differential pay for hard-to-staff roles, and sustainable funding for annual compensation increases, including implementation of the 80/20 health insurance premium structure. APS also seeks recurring legislative funding to expand promising practices—including Transformational Coaches, Teaching and Learning Coaches, Community School Coordinators, and Student Success System Resource Teachers—to ensure educators are supported, instructional quality is elevated, and student outcomes are improved across the district.

Safety

As student well-being and campus security remain top priorities statewide, Albuquerque Public Schools is strengthening its comprehensive approach to safety and whole-child support. Albuquerque Public Schools requests recurring legislative funding to enhance student and staff safety through expanded social-emotional learning supports, increased access to critical wraparound services, including counseling, social work, and nursing, and continued investment in safety-related infrastructure improvements. These resources will reinforce APS’s layered approach to safety, ensuring that students have the skills, support, and secure learning environments they need to thrive.

All legislation passed by the Legislature must be signed by the Governor by March 10, 2026. 

2025 Interim Legislative Session - APS Presentations

July 25, 2025, Las Vegas, NM, Highlands University -  Charter Schools Governance and Support, Presenter: Dr. Joseph Escobedo, Sr. Director, APS Charter Schools.

2024 Interim Legislative Session - APS Presentations

May 16, 2024 -  APS Suicide Prevention: Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention Presentation by Vicki Price, APS Senior Director of Counseling, and Cheri Brubaker, APS Senior Director of Nursing

September 18 - 20 at Atrisco Heritage Academy HS, Presentation by Superintendent, Dr. Gabriella Duran Blakey. 

October 17, 2024  -" APS McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Implementation" Presentation by Cristal Wilson, Director, APS McKinney-Vento/Title 1

New Mexico Legislative Session 2024

The APS Government Affairs Team will represent the district at the 2024 30-day budget session of the New Mexico Legislature. The session begins on January 16, 2024, and ends on February 15, 2024. 

Although the district supports the right of employees to voice their political views, employees should not use the APS email system to express political opinions, nor should political emails be sent during the work day.

An APS employee who wants to attend a Legislative hearing or session, in-person or virtually, of the Legislature and has not been requested to do so by the district must take annual or personal leave. 

If you, as an APS employee, are contacted by a legislator, or other government agency or official regarding proposed legislation, interim legislative work, or school visits, contact Jessica Martinez, APS Policy Analyst and Government Liaison, at martinez_je@aps.edu prior to any further discussion.  She will help ensure that information is gathered and shared with the appropriate APS departments and that any district-related communications are consistent with the district's position on proposed legislation. 

If you represent a public agency or government official who wants information about APS policy, capital outlay, site visits, standing or interim legislative committee presentations, or specific school site information or issues, please contact Jessica Martinez at martinez_je@aps.edu. 

2023 Interim Session APS Presentations

September 29, 2023: Health Insurance and Risk Rates -- Todd Torgerson, Chief of Human Resources and Legal Support Services, Albuquerque Public Schools; Robert Doucette, Secretary, General Services Department; Patrick Sandoval, Director, Public School Insurance Authority; Kari Armijo, Acting Secretary, Human Services Department

APS Benefits and Risk LFC presentation

 July 27, 2023: Leveraging Learning Time in New Mexico - Scott Elder, Superintendent, Albuquerque Public Schools (APS); Channell Segura, Ed.D., Chief of Schools, APS with Tim Bedeaux, Senior Policy Analyst II, LESC; Lawrence Sanchez, Superintendent, Belen Consolidated Schools

APS Calendar

 May 16, 2023: Education Leaders Panel - Channell Segura, Ed.D., Chief of Schools, Albuquerque Public Schools with Matthew Montano, Superintendent, BPS; Sue Cleveland, Ed.D., Superintendent, Rio Rancho Public Schools; Karen Sanchez-Griego, Ed.D., Superintendent, Cuba Public Schools; Jade Rivera, Founder and Executive Director, Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School

APS Instituting Later Start Times for Middle and High School Students