EQ2 Initiative

EQ2 Initiative

Equipped for Equity

Equipped for Equity


What Is The EQ2 Initiative?

The EQ2 Initiative is a statewide movement building healthier, more prosperous communities through educational innovation designed to increase equity and student engagement. We are committed to transforming teaching, learning, and assessment through student-led, culturally and linguistically-responsive practices including graduate profiles, capstones, assessment literacy, and work-based learning.
Highland High School EQ2 student presenting
Highland High School EQ2 student presenting

What Is The EQ2 Initiative?

The EQ2 Initiative is a statewide movement building healthier, more prosperous communities through educational innovation designed to increase equity and student engagement. We are committed to transforming teaching, learning, and assessment through student-led, culturally and linguistically-responsive practices including graduate profiles, capstones, assessment literacy, and work-based learning.

EQ2 student working on blueprint for project

Why now?


When students have agency in their learning, they light up. Giving students opportunities to explore their interests inside and outside the classroom ignites their ambitions. In New Mexico, our students are disengaging at alarming rates. However, if we connect learning to real-world work, student identity, and authentic assessment we can keep young people engaged and excited at school.

“I would rather set my own goals and expectations and

take initiative to develop my own project, rather than

have someone come in and give me these numbers and

prompts that have no connection to my identity or culture.”

- Lakin

- Lakin

“I would rather set my own goals and

expectations and take initiative to develop

my own project, rather than have someone

prompts that have no connection to my

identity or culture.”

How to Get involved


With each rightsholder group below, we co-create new mental models about teaching, learning, and assessment that are grounded in community, integrate SEL and trauma-informed practices, and attend to the Yazzie/Martinez decision to innovate the high school experience.

Join the movement of change in the state!

 

For Youth:

Youth Participatory Action Research + Internships

Young people from around the state have shared what they needed from their learning experiences. This work with youth continues in the YPAR and Youth LEAD statewide paid internships. 

Apply here by the first week of August; the internship will begin in September.

Apply for YPAR internship

For Educators:

Educator Community of Learners

Educators are at the heart of our change strategy. At EQ2, educators are engaged and supported in year-long paid professional learning opportunities with colleagues from across the state. 

Join our Community of Learners at one the following tiers:

  • Capstone Foundations:
    Professional development for project-based-learning, rubric design, universal design for learning, standards-based grading, competency-based grading
  • Capstone Exploration:
    For those who want to teach capstone and need support with implementation and design.
  • Capstone Practitioners:
    For current capstone educators who seek to deepen their approach to equity and integrated SEL practices in capstone learning and assessment experiences.

Deadline to apply is August 27th.

Apply to the Educator Community of Learners

For District and School Leaders:

Innovative Assessment Community of Practice

School and district leaders from around the state meet monthly to learn more about the process to transform teaching and learning by leveraging authentic learning and assessment experiences. 

By actively participating in the Innovative Assessment Community of Practice (CoP), members can use an Innovative Assessment Option from the NM Public Education Department. 

Learn more about the Innovative Assessment CoP
Apply to the Innovative Assesment CoP

Work-based Learning Community of Practice

School and district leaders convene monthly to learn and share best practices from the field when establishing a work-based learning program in their school or district. 
Apply to the Work-based Learning CoP

NMPED Innovation Zone Initiative

The Innovation Zone Initiative transforms the school experience by prioritizing real-world learning, local identity, and student agency.

Districts and charter schools apply to be a part of the Innovation Zone Initiative through the NM Public Education Department. Once approved, districts and charters are provided with funding and support to implement these innovative practices in their schools.

Learn more and apply to the Innovation Zone Initiative

For Nonprofits, Funders, and Community Partners:

Youth Civic Infrastructure Fund

Students, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and funders work collaboratively to build curriculum, internships, and capstone projects that actively work to improve the communities in which the students live.
Learn more about the Youth Civic Infrastructure Fund

Learn more

Explore the impact of capstones, graduate profiles, and work-based learning:

Capstone documentary by Lakin award screenshotCapstone documentary by Lakin award screenshot

EQ2 Partners

Public education department logo
Image
SELL4NM logo
New Mexico State logo
Parents Reaching Out
Image
national education association of new mexico logo
Transform education logo
Image