6/9 Education Digest

Program offers college experience

Kids will have a chance to attend college this summer through a program offered by Eastern New Mexico University. The program, running from July 6-29, hold daily sessions in six subjects: Physical education, science, arts and crafts, computers, and swimming and reading.

“Kids College” also offers its student the opportunity to attend three field trips to Leslie’s Candy Kitchen and Hillcrest Zoo in Clovis, to Sunland Peanuts and Southwest Canners in Portales, and to the Science Spectrum in Lubbock. The cost is $60 per week. For more information call 1-800-537-5376 or 505-562-2165.

Company to pay for GED testing

A company that provides gas and electricity services for New Mexico, PNM, is teaming up with the New Mexico Public Education Department to help students get their GED.

The company will pay for the required testing, according to PED’s Public Information Officer Jennifer Chavez. The opportunity is a public outreach program offered annually by the company since 2002, she said.

On average, a person with a GED earns $6,000 a year more than a person without his or her GED, according to a PED press release. For more information visit http://www.ped.state.nm.us or call 1-866-GED-4YOU.

Basketball camps will be held at ENMU

Four basketball camps will be held at Eastern New Mexico University this June for varying age groups. For more information call the ENMU athletic department at 505-562-2153.

Education study finds funding gap

According to Public Education Department study, there is an estimated $26 million gap between what New Mexico received in federal funding and what it spent to implement the federal education program for the 2004-2005 school year, a New Mexico Public Education Department news release said.

“While nearly everybody agrees on the principles behind the No Child Left Behind Act, several recent reports have found serious flaws in the law’s accountability framework and funding structure and these issues aren’t’ going to go away,” said New Mexico’s Education Secretary Veronica Garcia.

Secretary Garcia has met with U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings three times during the past month to discuss NCLB and its impact on New Mexico, the press release said. Clovis Schools Federal Programs Director David Briseno said that there a several unfunded NCLB mandates in the Clovis school system, but that the school has not documented the gap in funding.

Education Digest is compiled by CNJ staff writer Marlena Hartz. She may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail: [email protected]