SCHOOL ENROLLMENT PROCESS

HB 464 prohibits New Mexico public schools from denying enrollment to school-age students based on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, or residential address. It requires school districts to determine and publicly post school capacity by grade level every 12 weeks, enroll applicants on a first-come, first-served basis when space is available, and report enrollment data annually to the public education department. The bill limits school boards' ability to create enrollment preferences beyond existing categories (like military families) and mandates transparency through online vacancy postings. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.