Indian Education News

Indian Education Division offers help for students!
The Indian Education Division at the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) is here to assist prospective and current students navigate their higher education path. Below are resources on key areas that prospective and current students need to consider such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Financial Aid, Institutional Scholarships, and more. If you’re a student and there is something more specific that you have a question about, please contact us using the chat box below. We are here to help!
Info for Parents with Special Needs
Upcoming Workshop Featuring Peter W.D. Wright, Esq Tuesday, March 9th, 2021 “New to Special Education? Basics to know Immediately” 10:00 am to 11:00 am MT
Impact Aid and New Mexico Public School Funding Challenges
The State of New Mexico made history in 1974 by creating the Operational Funding formula known as the State Equalization Guarantee (SEG). The new SEG was revolutionary in its intent to move away from reliance on local property taxes to fund operations in local schools. Unfortunately, the State did not pass an equalization funding formula for Public School Capital Outlay in 1976, as was originally planned. The lack of Capital Outlay equalization forced school districts to rely on local property taxes, issuance of general obligation bonds tied to property valuations, and direct legislative appropriations for capital outlay needs. Impact Aid districts, who receive Impact Aid payments to replace lost property taxes and lower bonding capacity, saw millions of dollars swept into the Operational Funding formula. From 1974 to 2002, Impact Aid Districts had little to no ability to replace or repair school facilities and utilized its operational funding to support capital outlay needs. From 2002 to the present, Impact Aid Districts have had to rely on operational funds and an adequacy system to replace or repair school facilities. This presentation will discuss Impact Aid, public school funding changes, funding challenges, and the consequences that these decisions have had on Districts like Gallup-McKinley County Schools.
More department news

Higher Education

Information and resources for students researching colleges and universities.

Central New Mexico Community College (CNM): Financial aid and scholarship services for future students.
Harvard College: The university has announced new initiatives to get students from low to middle-income families to attend its' university.
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) Advanced Technical Education Program: Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is a federally operated community college, funded through the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). SIPI Advanced Technology and Engineering programs are fully accredited and articulated with all the New Mexico four-year universities: UNM, NMSU, and NMTECH. SIPI offers the first two years of a four-year engineering program.
University of New Mexico: Admissions and recruitment services for prospective students.
Arizona State University Indian Legal Program Washington DC Experience
Arizona state University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law - Indian Law
Arizona State University Pipeline to LAW Native American Law Workshop