The Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit reshaped the landscape of public education in New Mexico. In 2018, the court ruled that the State had violated the constitutional rights of low-income students, English learners, Native American students, and students with disabilities by failing to provide them with a sufficient education. The court ordered immediate action to ensure equity, adequate resources, and stronger accountability.
Years later, citing continued inequities and poor outcomes, the plaintiffs returned to court. In April 2025, the court ordered the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) to develop a Comprehensive Remedial Action Plan—a roadmap to transform education across the state. This plan must be built in collaboration with Tribes, school districts, families, and communities, and serve as long-term guidance for both state agencies and legislators.
The LANL Foundation’s Role
In June 2025, the LANL Foundation was selected by PED to lead the statewide stakeholder engagement process. Our responsibility was to design and facilitate opportunities for authentic community participation—ensuring that the voices of those most affected by the lawsuit shaped the foundation of the Action Plan.
Working with partners including the Leadership Institute at Santa Fe Indian School, Future Focused Education, Levado, WestEd, and the Legislative Education Study Committee, the LANL Foundation coordinated an unprecedented outreach effort that prioritized equity, inclusivity, and cultural responsiveness.
Community Engagement at Scale
Between July and September 2025, the LANL Foundation and partners:
- Convened 13 regional community meetings and two virtual sessions, engaging more than 1,400 participants.
- Hosted dedicated sessions with Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos, state legislators, and higher education leaders.
- Collected over 1,200 survey responses and 350+ existing proposals from community members and organizations.
- Trained 50+ facilitators from across New Mexico to ensure culturally responsive, trauma-informed dialogue.
- Removed barriers to participation by providing free meals, child care, translation services (Spanish, ASL, and Indigenous languages), and family-friendly scheduling.
Every idea, recommendation, and concern was documented through multiple channels—including surveys, sticky notes, digital listening tools, and structured notes. This layered approach ensured that no voice was lost and every perspective informed the drafting of the Action Plan.
Guiding Principles
The process was built on four principles:
- Equity: Centering students historically underserved by the education system.
- Cultural Responsiveness: Honoring Indigenous languages, traditions, and community knowledge.
- Accessibility: Removing logistical and linguistic barriers to participation.
- Transparency: Ensuring community members could see how their input shaped the work.
Looking Ahead
While the LANL Foundation’s role concluded with the statewide community engagement phase, the voices collected have been delivered to PED and WestEd to inform the drafting of the Martinez/Yazzie Comprehensive Remedial Action Plan. The Foundation hopes the data will be made public so that all New Mexicans can learn from this work and continue to hold the system accountable.
The Martinez/Yazzie case represents more than a legal mandate—it is an opportunity to reimagine public education in New Mexico. By elevating community wisdom and investing in authentic engagement, we move closer to a future where every child has the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.