PED will enroll 330 students statewide as part of a three-year effort to improve graduation rates and support stability

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - High school students experiencing homelessness will receive $500 monthly payments for meeting attendance and academic requirements under a new state pilot program launching this month.

The New Mexico Public Education Department will enroll 330 students in grades 10–12 across 12 school districts and one charter school. Lawmakers funded the three-year pilot at $2.1 million annually.

To qualify for payments starting in December, students must keep monthly attendance at 92 percent, complete all schoolwork, attend three academic support sessions each week and meet regularly with counselors for wraparound services.

“This program recognizes the real challenges homeless students face and gives them stability to graduate and pursue their dreams,” Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla said.

The program builds on a New Mexico Appleseed pilot that recorded a 93 percent graduation rate among participating students, far above statewide outcomes for homeless youth.

“A diploma changes everything — it's the difference between perpetuating poverty and breaking free from it,” said Jennifer Ramo, executive director of New Mexico Appleseed, which will provide technical assistance. “We're watching that transformation happen in real time.”

The pilot includes urban, rural and tribal communities and aligns with equity efforts outlined in the Martinez/Yazzie Action Plan.