At the heart of our vision for New Mexico’s future is a simple but powerful approach: start with young people. We have used their voices to build a policy agenda that has been embraced by local communities, educators, and legislators. We have arrived at the moment where the policies that will help them become successful adults are ready to be enacted. This is a moment to push back against the narrative that “nothing works” and instead champion a vision in 2026 that will help our state become healthier and more prosperous.  

Currently our state is struggling with chronic absenteeism, lagging graduation rates, and the highest numbers of students not in school–in a word, they are “disengaged.” These factors lead to the lowest workforce participation rates in the nation, but a better future is tied to our ability to find the policy solutions that can take us to a better place. 

A future where young people are motivated to be in school and have the support they need to thrive must be built with policies that reflect their needs. Instituto del Puente has established itself as the bridge or “puente” that is designed to take us from where we are now to where we want to be. Over a two year time span and after collecting over 2,000 comments from young people representing 16 communities across New Mexico, we learned that they want three things:  

1. Learning with purpose and meaning,
2. Care for their well-being, and 
3. Support from a mentor who can help them become a responsible adult.

Our 2026 policy platform is targeted at the needs of the young people through our Grow Your Own Economic Development Strategy. It provides measurable outcomes for policies that are rooted in the voices of young people and designed to address their needs. Each initiative is focused on a subgroup of students and when combined will lead to statewide, population level impact.  

There is a lot in place to move a student-focused agenda forward:

• Over the past three years, the Innovation Zone (IZ) initiative has created new mindsets for educators and administrators that change is possible.
• Demand for hands-on relevant learning has grown exponentially as evidenced by the number of internships and capstones currently being offered in schools participating in IZ.
• There is increasing demand for innovative solutions to re-engage young people. This momentum will continue to grow as the field recognizes that there are strategies that address disengagement challenges facing public schools.  
• These initiatives are reimagining the school day, engaging educators in new ways and creating deep public/private partnerships.They also have the potential to reimagine our high schools by beginning with the skills and knowledge young people need to be successful.
• School-based behavioral health initiatives are growing because they provide immediate support to schools to meet the mental health crisis and provide a career path for young people interested in the field.
• Robust evaluations of these initiatives prove that policy makers need to invest in a new vision for the connection between high school and community development.

In our other Instituto blogs you will see the passion from Representatives Herndon, Parajón, and Thomson and practitioners from Las Cruces, Jemez Valley, and Alamogordo. We have also interviewed a student whose thoughts will help all of us appreciate the power of listening to the people who are most affected by the policies we create. Together, these voices demonstrate the need for a policy bridge that we can build to a healthier and more prosperous future.  

As a partner in reimagining education in New Mexico, it’s vital that we work together to ensure positive change this legislative session and beyond.

For more information, read our 2026 policy priorities and sign up for updates during the session from Instituto del Puente’s new Assistant Director, Amanda Parker.

Sincerely,

Tony Monfiletto

Director, Instituto del Puente