Advocacy

Bilingualism is an asset to be encouraged and promoted.

• Languages, cultures and heritages should be preserved,

maintained and developed for all people in New Mexico

• Respect for all languages and acceptance of diversity is

essential for a healthy society.

• The teaching and learning of languages is vital for the

education of all children.

• The most important tool for learning is the language(s)

that the child brings to school.

• Focused professional development for stakeholders is

vital for lifelong learning, understanding and growth.

Article Excerpt from the Santa Fe New Mexican

Bilingual education advocates push for increased focus, opportunities

In 1973, the Legislature had an inspired idea, said Elisabeth Valenzuela, executive director of the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education: For the first time, the state’s lawmakers allocated funding for multilingual, culturally responsive education programs in a law called the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act.

The historic legislation — the first of its kind in the United States — acknowledged the many cultural histories and traditions present in the state, Valenzuela said, while providing teachers with the resources necessary to teach in multiple languages.

50th Anniversary of the BMEA of 1973

In 1973, the original Bilingual Multicultural Education Act was the first of its kind, honoring the unique multilingual and multicultural identity of our state, and it served as model legislation for other states to adopt. Now, five decades later, the BMEA has laid the foundation for what should guarantee equitable education opportunities for all New Mexicans.

A committee of educators, leaders and scholars dedicated to serving our bilingual communities have come together over the past few months to draft a Joint Memorial for this 2023 Legislative Session. We have enlisted the support of two champions; Senator Robert Gonzales and Representative Derrick Lente, to bring the Joint Memorial forward on our behalf..

We urge you to support the BMEA Joint Memorial SJM 6/HJM 3, which would ensure the continuation and expansion of multicultural educational support and resources for our children. We believe all children are sacred and to this end, we are asking Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare 2023
“The Year of Multicultural Education in New Mexico”.

For Education Proponents and District Leaders:

Please share this email widely and consider signing on to a Letter of Support that will reflect the broad network of Superintendents who value the intent of the BMEA Joint Memorial. To add your organization to the letter, please email us at info@transformeducationnm.org.

Click here to read the Letter of Support

For Teachers and Students:

Nothing catches a busy Representative or Senator’s attention like a letter from a young person or educator in their district. We urge teachers to consider including a lesson in the coming weeks that invites students to read the BMEA Fact Sheet and write a letter to their lawmakers. We are including a coloring sheet that teachers can download and print for younger students. We look forward to stories about successes and challenges that face our students and teachers in bilingual education.

Click here to download the BMEA Memorial Fact Sheet
Click here to find your legislators
Click here to download the coloring sheet

For The Parents in Your District/School Community:

Please share this information with parents and grandparents in a manner that is appropriate for your area (posting on your school’s website, as an example).

Click here to download our social media toolkit

New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education

Advocacy

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Article Excerpt from the Santa Fe New Mexican

Bilingual education advocates push for increased focus, opportunities

50th Anniversary of the BMEA of 1973