Judge slaps down MLG 5-day school week overreach

A Ninth Judicial District Court judge ruled Monday that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s attempt to impose a 180-day school calendar through her Public Education Department (and without the Legislature’s approval) rule is unlawful.

Judge Dustin K. Hunter issued a temporary restraining order against the rule last spring after the New Mexico School Superintendents Association sued PED over a rule requiring 180 days of instructional time per school year.

The Rio Grande Foundation had been among those who believed in local districts should determine how districts comply with the Legislature-passed hours in the classroom requirement. The Gov. and PED were never empowered by the Legislature (and in fact the Legislature acted in opposition) to forcing the 5 day week).

This is a win for local control and sanity in education policymaking. Will the Gov. appeal? Only time will tell.