ZIP Advertisement Gov. Lujan Grisham signs bill that gives school districts with large Native American populations access to $60 million Share Updated: 8:25 PM MDT Apr 5, 2021 Share Updated: 8:25 PM MDT Apr 5, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript THIS IS ABOUT 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM SIGNED HOUSE BILL 6 INTO LAW RIGHT HERE OUTSIDE OF THE ROUNDHOUSE AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT MOMENT. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A HISTORIC MOMENT. SHE IS SURROUNDED BY STATE AND TRIBAL LEADERS THAT INCLUDES THE NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT JONATHAN, NEZ AND THIS ENDS DECADES OLD INEQUITIES BY SENDING FUNDS DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS WITH LARGE NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATIONS PRIOR TO THE STATE TOOK PART OF THE FUNDING BUT NO MORE THE STATE SAYS THIS WILL HELP IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF EDUCATION STUDENTS RECEIVE. I TALKED TO OUR GOVERNOR ONE ON THIS TODAY. WE’VE BEEN UNDERFUNDING THOSE SCHOOLS AND THEY JUST GET POORPA IT MEANS THOSE KIDS DON’T HAVE THE SAME CHANCE AND I COULD SPEND AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT WHY BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE TODAY THERE ARE NO MORE WISE. THERE’S JUST WHAT WE ARE RESTORING EQUALITY BACK INTO THE ENTIRE SCHOOL. TH ALSO, MAYBE WONDERING IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE YAZI MARTINEZ LAWSUIT THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE LACK OF FUNDING FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AS SHE SAID THAT IT’S NOT DIRECTLY RELATED, BUT IT DOES HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE EQUITY PROBLEMS. THE STATE HAS HAD OTHER PE SECRETARY CHIMING IN ON THIS. HE SAYS THIS LEGISLATION IT IS GOING TO GET RID OF SYSTEMIC INEQUITY, AND HOW EDUCATION IS FUNDED IN THE STATE REPORTING LIVE IN