State's schools drop in progress benchmark

From KOB-TV.com - The grades are in for New Mexico schools and only 13percent met Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP. That's down from 23 percent last year. But, some are concerned this year's numbers don't tell the whole story. The reason is, the data from this year, isn't measured the same way as the data has been measured in the past. That means scores released Friday may not be as bad as they seem. No Child Left Behind Law requires that all states meet a 100 percent proficiency by 2014. Education Secretary Hanna Skandera says it comes down to the fact that New Mexico students need to perform better. As far as ranking New Mexico with other states, Skandera said, "Every state has different standards and assessments, so technically speaking, the comparison is apples to oranges today." She believes the letter grading system the state plans to implement in the fall will help with that. Next year the state plans to send a waiver to the U.S. Department of Education to replace AYP with that system. Read more

State's schools drop in progress benchmark

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More Signs of Rebound of NM Economy

Susana Martinez

Bloomberg  Business Week - The finances of New Mexico's unemployment compensation program are improving and the fund should remain in the black through early 2013, a year longer than previously projected, according to Gov. Susana Martinez's administration. However, it remains uncertain how much in taxes businesses must pay next year to keep the program afloat. As it stands now because of a veto by the governor, there's nothing in state law that sets unemployment tax rates for businesses starting in January. "I think we are seriously in limbo," said Rep. Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat. Read full story here: News New Mexico

More Signs of Rebound of NM Economy

Oil and Gas Still Paying the Bills in NM

Albany Times Union — New Mexico is seeing record amounts of revenue from drilling leases. The increase comes as improved drilling techniques and the consent of potash miners persuaded the State Land Office this year to open previously off-limits tracts of land in New Mexico's southeastern counties to oil companies. The State Land Office in June recorded unprecedented bid levels at its monthly oil and natural gas lease sale in by auctioning off leases on nearly 8,400 acres, mostly in Eddy and Lea Counties, for $17.2 million. That record lasted only one month.

Last week, the state accepted bids from oil companies totaling $19.5 million for an additional 9,600 acres of drilling rights. All newly available oil leases will are expected to be gobbled up by August. Much of the state's money from the leases is earmarked for a state fund that pays out a prescribed amount of money every year to public schools, universities and other beneficiaries. "It's been a nice shot in the arm for education right when we need it," Public Lands Commissioner Ray Powell told The Albuquerque Journal. Although the boom isn't expected to last, it's the latest sign of an uptick in New Mexico oil production despite ongoing debate over the state's environmental regulations. Oil production in New Mexico during the just-ended fiscal year had increased by more than 4 percent. Every $1 increase in crude oil prices generates $4 million in revenue for state coffers over the course of a year. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Oil and Gas Still Paying the Bills in NM