(Santa Fe, NM)-The New Mexico Education Partners, a diverse group of statewide organizations working on behalf of public education, today called for the Legislature to make critical changes in the funding formula. "We must provide increased funding to districts experiencing significant growth in enrollment. And we must do this without decreasing the value of a unit," said Renatta Witte, president of the New Mexico PTA, speaking on behalf of the Partners at a news conference at the state Capitol.

Witte urged the Legislature to continue on course toward excellence in education. "Simply put, the investment in education in 2003 must be ample to meet the needs of continued progress," she said.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael J. Davis spoke on behalf of the Partners in support of HB 3, the Education Appropriation Act pending before the Legislature. "HB 3 places a priority on public education because it recognizes the need for funding for three-tiered licensure for teachers, funds for schools in need of improvement and other ongoing programs essential to public school children," he said. State Superintendent Davis addressed 15 pieces of legislation that will continue progress in public education.

Formed in 1998, the Education Partners membership includes:

American Association of University Women
Center for Service Learning
Coalition for Excellence in Science
and Math Education
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
Educational Retirement Board
League of Women Voters of New Mexico
Mid-Rio Grande Collaborative for
Education Excellence
National Education Association-New Mexico
New Mexico Alliance for Arts Education
New Mexico Association of
Community Colleges
New Mexico Association of
Educational Retirees
New Mexico Coalition of School Administrators
New Mexico Commission on
Higher Education
New Mexico Federation of Catholic
School Families
New Mexico Federation of
Educational Employees
New Mexico PTA
New Mexico Research and Study Council
New Mexico School Boards Association
New Mexico State Board of Education
New Mexico State Department of Education
New Mexico Voter Services Coalition
Teacher Education and Accountability
Council

For more information, contact Ruth Williams, at the State Department of Education, at (505) 476-0393.