Innovate

Education is more than a luxury;

I n s p i r e
E m p o w e r
it is a responsibility that society owes itself.
– Robin Cook, Best Selling Author

ENLACE & Public Policy

Why is ENLACE interested in public policy?

2010 Legislative Agenda

Public policies, within the educational context, are the rules that shape how students and families are served by
schools. Moving institutions to change their policies and practices is challenging work. With regard to policy
change, ENLACE successes come from making connections between institutions, communities and families and
then problem-solving together. Our partners live and work in every senate and representative district in New
Mexico. ENLACE stakeholders believe that by working collaboratively with our elected officials, we can
promote policies that enable us to provide educational opportunities and support for students throughout the
State of New Mexico. ENLACE seeks to be recognized as a leader in involving communities with the legislative
process on issues relating to educational reform. As a collaborative we influence decisions concerning important
issues by working with elected officials in our communities, our state capital and Washington, D.C.
How are legislative issues and priorities identified?
Our goal is a policy agenda that reflects the issues, concerns and priorities of ENLACE stakeholders in promoting
educational equity for all students and to improve academic performance throughout the P-20 pipeline in New
This is Success.
Mexico. Defining policy issues and priorities is an evolving process which began in 2001; annual community
forums allow us to update and polish our legislative agenda.
This is Hope.
How can I get involved?
This is our Future.
It is your right and responsibility to connect with state legislators and members of congress. For information
regarding specific legislation or to find out how to become more involved, please contact Diana Montoya-Boyer, • 86% of ENLACE high school graduates go to college.
ENLACE Community Relations Manager, at deemb@unm.edu.
• 91% of ENLACE students matriculate to the
next grade.
ENLACE New Mexico Directorship
Lawrence Roybal • 11,000 families & students are served
Statewide Executive Director & by ENLACE across New Mexico.
Central Region
505.277.1804
lroybal@unm.edu ENLACE NM Statewide Collaborative
Sylvia Montaño Mabel González
Eastern Region Northwestern Region ENgaging LAtino Communities for Education (ENLACE) New Mexico is a statewide
575.749.6323 505.325.1055
sylvia.montano@clovis-schools.org gonzalezm@sanjuancollege.edu
collaboration of gente who represent the voices of underserved children and families
– people who have historically not had a say in policy initiatives that directly impact
Ron Martinez Freddy Marquez them and their communities. Therefore, both partners and community members are at the
Northeastern Region Southern Region
505.747.7238 575.646.7927 forefront of this initiative. This collaborative is based on a process that empowers
rmartinez@cesdp.nmhu.edu sammy824@nmsu.edu communities to find their voices in the pursuit of social justice and educational access
MSC11 6300 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 and success.
http://enlacenm.unm.edu
505.277.5481
ENLACE
2010 Legislative Agenda
ENLACE NM Statewide Collaborative Educational Success Strategies
During difficult economic times, ENLACE stakeholders understand the need for the state • Bilingual Education - Expanding effective
bilingual speakers will improve classroom teaching
to curtail spending and do what is best for all New Mexican families. Because education is and enhance workplaces for New Mexico’s
one of the best predictors for economic recovery, even in economic hardtimes, it is essential communities.
to continue investing in education. Therefore, ENLACE seeks to maintain current funding
• Curriculum - Legislation that seeks to
in order to sustain programmatic levels across the state, providing a continuity of services to enhance dual credit, advanced placement and
New Mexico’s students, families and communities. The ENLACE Statewide Collaborative culturally sensitive curriculum will continue to be a
is possible because of the generous support of the New Mexico Legislature and the New focus of ours.
Mexico Higher Education Department. • Financial Literacy - ENLACE will remain
committed to both educating and promoting programs
ENLACE Mentoring & Tutoring initiatives that teach students and families about financial
institutions, how to manage money and financing
ENLACE’s culturally relevant mentoring and tutoring programs college.
promote academic and personal success among middle and high • Health & Law Careers - Increasing the
diversity in the legal and medical professions will
school students. Programs focus particularly on students from
make New Mexico healthier and expand justice.
diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. Without the leadership
• Lottery Scholarship - Ensuring that every
and support of key legislators these initiatives would not have such
New Mexico high school graduate has the financial
high rates of success. assistance they need to attend college is one of
ENLACE’s priorities.
• Professional & Leadership Development
Family Involvement The ENLACE community believes that ongoing
The ability for students to succeed in their education depends greatly on their families’
professional and leadership development plays an
important role in the improvement of students’
level of invovlement. ENLACE remains dedicated to the core mission of providing educational experiences and creates an informed
avenues of engagement, involvement and growth for families across New Mexico. This populace.
effort includes the support of the Family and Youth Resource Act, Title I and the New • Public School Funding Formula
Mexico Public Education Department’s creation of the Parental Leadership & Community Funding formula reform will decrease educational
inequalities and improve outcomes.
Partnership Institute, a statewide initiative to increase parental involvement within the
• Service Learning - Linking classroom learn-
hardest to reach populations.
ing with practical experience enhances educational
experiences as well as increases career awareness and
School Counseling civic engagement.
Throughout 2009 the New Mexico School Counselor Task Force met to build consensus • Small School Initiative - ENLACE supports
Think New Mexico in championing legislation to
on critical issues relating to school counseling and to develop policy recommendations for
expand the number of small schools.
the New Mexico Legislature, which became a report to the New Mexico Public Education
• Youth Entrepreneurship - ENLACE
Department. School counseling and these recommendations will remain legislative priorities supports legislation that expose youth to the skills of
for ENLACE. For detailed information regarding the recommendations, see the New Mexico
creating and managing small businesses, the
School Counselor Task Force Final Report on the ENLACE website. engine of a global economy.
Did you know?
ENLACE’s Central Region:
• Serves approximately 2000 students in the
P-20 pipeline through mentoring and family
involvement programs.
• Los Compañeros Program increased its
participation by nearly 200 students from
2008 to 2009.
ENLACE’s Eastern Region:
• Has a new Parent Center at Cameo
Elementary that serves approximately 314
students and their families.
• Tutorial Services Program at Portales
Middle School serves 352 students through
tutors from Eastern New Mexico University
and emphasizes on enhancing literacy and
math skills.
ENLACE’s Northeastern Region:
• Provided ongoing college awareness and
readiness services to over 1400 students in
areas including AVID, tutoring, leadership
development and college access workshops
as well as provided AVID professional
development to over 95 content area teachers
and to over 400 parents.
• ENLACE students received over $250,000
in competitive scholarships last year.
ENLACE’s Northwestern
Region:
• Provided services to 850 individuals from
June to December 2009.
• Hosted the first annual Latino College Day,
established Los Compañeros and provided a
monthly average of 642 hours of instruction
in English as a Second Language, Family
Literacy, bilingual GED coursework, Kids
Summer College and Citizenship classes.
ENLACE’s Southern Region:
• Took roughly 100 high school students
to NMSU for the ENLACE College Day
where students worked together to address
issues and eliminate barriers facing youth in
southern New Mexico.
• Opened two new Parent Centers for a
total of 29. With support of the local school
districts, one was established at Las Cruces
High School and another at Hatch Valley
Middle School.