Board approves $2.2 million to expand middle‑school redesign with ASU partnership

The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education on March 26 approved $2,200,000 in additional operational funds to expand a middle‑school redesign pilot in partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation (AFT).

Administrators said the money will extend and scale an RFP‑backed redesign of grades 6–8 that uses a teaming model intended to boost teacher collaboration, increase students’ sense of belonging and improve academic outcomes. Deputy Superintendent Randy Malerwein told the board the request covers two years of work up front and is intended to build internal capacity so APS can reduce reliance on outside consultants over time. “We wanted to make sure that we were looking at what work we knew was in front of us,” Malerwein said.

Board members pressed staff on sustainability, asking whether the district will shift to grant funding after the initial period and how APS will eliminate external consultants by about 2030. Malerwein and other staff said the budget plan is staged—costs were described as decreasing each year—and that staff will provide a clear four‑year plan showing how consulting support tapers as internal capacity grows.

ASU researcher Lennon Adrain, who leads the initiative’s innovation and policy work, said ASU will collaborate with APS and AFT to define performance metrics tailored to district priorities. “We would be happy to … consider what kinds of performance metrics would make most sense to Albuquerque Public Schools,” Adrain said, noting prior evidence from other states that teaming models produce measurable gains in working conditions and student outcomes.

Board discussion covered how many schools and teachers the funds will reach. Staff said cohort planning will add nine schools to an existing six, for a total of 15 schools this cycle; many schools intend to adopt the model “wall to wall,” which could mean nearly all teachers at some sites receive training. Staff pledged to return a breakdown of how many teachers and what roles will be trained, and to distribute the schools across the district to promote equity.

Board member Rebecca Bettson urged that measurable contract requirements be added—attendance, academic indicators, teacher retention and working‑condition metrics were suggested—and ASU staff agreed to incorporate rigorous measurement and, where possible, causal analysis.

The motion to approve the $2.2 million passed by roll call at the special board meeting following the finance committee session. Heather Benavides left early for a work emergency and was recorded as absent during the vote. Staff said they will provide a detailed spending breakdown and the evaluation metrics to the board before budget adoption.