LESC Education Topics


Data, Technology, Assessment & Accountability

Educators, state leaders, researchers, and other community members across New Mexico rely on data to monitor the state’s progress toward improving student outcomes. New Mexico has made significant progress in the domains of data infrastructure, assessments, and accountability systems. The public education department has built a balanced system of student assessment and is transitioning to a real-time student data system designed to modernized data collection and automate redundant processes. In addition, the Legislature recently established a statutory framework for a holistic school accountability system designed to provide targeted support rather than label failure. However, each of these efforts has been met with inconsistent implementation, hampering the state’s ability to access data and understand whether certain investments are having their intended effect. The Legislature can play a role in setting policy to ensure data are collected, stored, and shared in a manner consistent with national best practices. In the meantime, LESC will continue to monitor data on programmatic inputs and student outcomes, using both a statewide education data dashboard as well as periodic updates on assessments and accountability systems from the Public Education Department and LESC staff.

Analyst Contact: Tim Bedeaux | Tim.Bedeaux@nmlegis.gov

2024 Interim Priorities

  • Study data governance. LESC will study effective state data governance structures designed to improve stakeholders’ capacity to access relevant data, analyze longitudinal trends, and make informed and impactful decisions.

  • Evaluate learning time implementation. LESC staff will use school data to analyze how differences in schools’ implementation of extended school calendars impacted student achievement and educators’ professional work time.

  • Improve LESC data dashboard. Changes to the LESC education data dashboard over the 2024 interim will include up-to-date data on student demographics, achievement, and educational programs.