Hispanic education bill heads to governor’s desk

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - The New Mexico Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would add heritage Spanish language preservation to the state’s Hispanic Education Act and expand the responsibilities of the Hispanic Education Advisory Council.

House Bill 487, sponsored by Rep. E. Diane Torres-Velásquez, now moves to the governor’s desk for consideration. The bill amends the purpose of the Hispanic Education Act to include efforts to protect and preserve New Mexico’s heritage Spanish language and culture.

“Incorporating heritage Spanish language preservation into the Hispanic Education Act reaffirms the state's enduring dedication to linguistic and cultural diversity,” Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla said.

Heritage Spanish refers to the Spanish language as it is passed down through generations within families and communities, particularly among those who grow up in a predominantly English-speaking society but maintain a cultural or familial connection to Spanish.

“New Mexico is proud to lead the way in protecting and uplifting Hispanic education. The swift passage of HB 487 reflects our deep commitment to honoring culture, language and identity in our classrooms,” Deputy Secretary Candice Castillo said.

New Mexico has a dialect of Spanish, often called Traditional New Mexican, that has been spoken for more than 400 years. A variety of factors threaten its survival, and HB 487 aims to slow its decline.

The bill would also allow members of the Hispanic Education Advisory Council to receive per diem and mileage reimbursement. It would require a biannual Hispanic education summit and include the Higher Education Department and community-based organizations as stakeholders in efforts to improve Hispanic student outcomes.

The Hispanic Education Act, signed into law in 2010, was originally created to preserve educational opportunities for Hispanic students and establish the Hispanic Education Advisory Council.