New Mexico Digital Learning Landscape
| State virtual school? | NO |
| Multi-district fully online schools? | YES |
| Online learning requirement for graduation? | NO |
| State approval process for online providers? | NO |
| State approval process for online courses? | NO |
New Mexico has four multi-district fully online schools, district programs, and several hybrid schools. The fully online schools enrolled 3,473 students in SY 2021-22, down from a peak of 6,816 students during the 2020-21 SY.
There is no state virtual school, but there is a virtual learning consortium. The New Mexico Virtual Course Consortium (NMVC²) is a network of public school districts and charter schools providing supplemental courses to students across the state through a memorandum of understanding between the student’s resident district or school and the provider LEA. NMVC2 is facilitated by the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) that authorizes LEAs to act as NMVC2 providers based on a per course fee. There are six district members contributing to the NMVC2 course catalog as of December 2022.
In addition to the six NMVC2 member districts, online and blended learning activity is through district programs.
Albuquerque Public Schools’ (APS) eCADEMY High School is an alternative school with online and blended learning programs serving K–12 students. The eCADEMY BlendED Learning Studio is a hybrid program that combines online learning and face-to-face instruction. Students are required to work at home for 4 hours daily and attend open-lab sessions where students work on their online classes with BlendED teacher support. The Independent Program offers a fully online option for APS students, and the ConnectED Distance Learning program provides supplemental online course opportunities. eCADEMY K–8 is a new APS magnet school that is an expansion of eCADEMY High School and was created in response to community demand.
Rio Rancho Public School’s 6-12 distance learning academy, Rio Rancho Cyber Academy, was established in 2005. The Rio Rancho Cyber Academy is open to all 6-12 students in the district. Students must apply to be considered for enrollment in the school. A specific set of criteria has been established that includes past attendance, demonstrated success in virtual learning and other indicators that parents should review with the Cyber Academy administration to ensure this is the best option for their child.
Gilbert L. Sena Charter High School operates a hybrid school for grades 9–12.
The Taos Academy charter school is a hybrid program for students in grades 5-12.
The Taos Cyber Magnet School is a hybrid program where students take online and traditional teacher-led courses. The magnet school emphasizes college and career readiness, giving students the option of taking courses at UNM-Taos as part of the dual credit program.
Hobbs Municipal Schools Online Academy offers part- and full-time options for K-12 students.
Las Cruces Public Schools operates the Virtual Learning Academy for district students in grades 6–12.
The School of Dreams Academy serves students in grades K-12 and is one of the six NVMC2 course providers.
The New Mexico Public Education Department makes the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) available as a statewide LMS option for all LEAs in New Mexico at no cost to the LEAs.
State Policies
No major legislation impacting online and/or blended learning was passed January through August 2022.
The state “distance learning” rule allows for the creation of fully online, multi-district schools, but stipulate that asynchronous distance learning, “shall not be used as a substitute for all direct, face-to-face student and teacher interactions unless approved by the local board of education.”