Deputy Secretary Vickie Bannerman
NMPED News:
SANTA FE — Students, family members and community members may now report school-based incidents of racial bias by calling a hotline maintained by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) in compliance with 2021 legislation.
The Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression Hotline – 1.505.226.3911 – went live Monday, the federal holiday marking the birth of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Reports also may be submitted by text, email (hotline.bea@gmail.com) or completing a form online at https://forms.gle/
The public can use the hotline to report incidents of racism, injustice or discrimination against anyone – not just Black students – in a school setting.
Callers will reach a trained department employee 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; if calling after hours, just leave a message.
“Depending on the report, we will either refer the caller to additional resources or initiate an investigation,” Deputy Secretary Vickie Bannerman said, who is responsible for implementing House Bill 43, the Black Education Act.
Deputy Secretary Bannerman has hired three people to assist with that work:
- a Black education liaison, who is developing a five-year strategic plan for public elementary and secondary education of Black students;
- a curriculum coordinator, who is working with the Higher Education Department to develop programs and instructional materials that recognize and teach Black culture and anti-racism, and that seek to improve job opportunities for Black New Mexicans in public and higher education; and
- a hotline manager.
“I am excited about this first step that the PED Black Education Act team is taking in creating a safer learning environment for our children,” Amy Whitfield said, executive director of the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs. “A designated hotline for reporting racism opens the doors for families to be heard and appropriate action to be taken.”
The Black Education Advisory Council, also mandated by the legislation, met for the first time Dec. 12 to review language in the Black Education Act and set priorities for advising the state on ways to improve academic and social outcomes for Black students.
The state already had Indian Education, Hispanic Education and Bilingual Multicultural Education advisory councils.
The legislation, which took effect July 1, 2021 also requires:
- Anti-racism policies in every district and state-chartered school;
- Anti-racism training annually for all school staff; and
- An annual report to the governor and legislature on progress.
The 2020 four-year graduation rate for Black students in New Mexico was 74 percent, 3 points below the state average and 7 points below the average for white students.
