Youth apprenticeship is an exciting part of the growing work-based learning landscape in New Mexico. Programs like Future Focused Education’s X3 NeXt Youth Apprenticeship program pave the way for students to succeed in their careers while also helping employers find local talent.
Why Local and National Education Leaders Reject Standardized Testing
Recently, we’ve seen national education leaders reject standardized tests, but Future Focused wanted to see what New Mexican educators, leaders, and students were saying too—so we asked them. This is what they had to say.
Mentorship in Mental Health: Finding Meaning and Resilience
Mentorship is a key component of any successful X3 internship, but for Youth Mental Health First Aid interns, it means even more. Read the story of Brian and Charles.
Students as Mental Health Responders: Answering the Call for More Youth Mental Health Support
We have to find ways to care for the whole person, says Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Ali Moore. Otherwise, students won’t be able to learn.
New Graduation Requirements will Empower Students and Teachers
In 2019, Future Focused Education interviewed young people from around the state to find more equitable ways of assessing their learning as part of the New Mexico Graduation Equity Initiative (NMGEI) through the Public Education Department (PED). These young people told us that the standard graduation requirements are not connected to who they are or what they can actually do.
What If Social-Emotional Learning Is A Key to Equity in NM?
By Amy McConnell Franklin | Founding Co-Chair SEL4NM
Why should schools care about social and emotional learning? Previously, we simply trusted that essential skills like managing emotions or showing empathy would logically have positive impacts on performance in schools.
How New Mexico Is Weaving Social-Emotional Learning into All Aspects of High School
By Dr. Lynne McMahan | SEL4NM Leadership Team
Earlier this year SEL4NM visited eleven schools across the state, and what we saw made us so inspired and excited about the future of New Mexico education. Here’s what we found, and why we are so optimistic about the future.
The Making of a Graduate Profile: Peñasco School District
What happened when the Peñasco district asked their community “what should students learn in school?”
What Should the Future of Assessment Look Like? And How Do We Get There?
By Harry Feder | Executive Director, FairTest
I taught for 22 years in New York City public schools. Among the classes I found most inspiring to teach was an elective called “The System”.
The students’ final project was a twenty-minute podcast. The class did not end in a standardized test, nor were there any administered during the course of the semester.
Teens Need More Hands-On Learning
By Kristin Leigh | Co-Executive Director, Explora
Explora recently celebrated the grand opening of X Studio, its new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) education and workforce development center for teens. The space is designed for teens to learn new skills, explore professional equipment, and develop ideas that can be realized.