New Mexico is tackling student homelessness with a groundbreaking initiative that pays qualifying high school students $500 per month to stay in school and graduate. The Guaranteed Payment for Attendance program started as a test in Cuba, New Mexico and is now expanding to 330 students across 12 school districts and one charter school statewide. Students from grades 10 to 12 must maintain a 92% attendance rate, complete all assignments, attend tutoring sessions, and meet regularly with a counselor to qualify for the monthly payments. The money is specifically designed to help students overcome barriers that force many homeless teens to drop out, particularly when they need to work to contribute to their family’s income.
Jennifer Ramo, Executive Director of New Mexico Appleseed which created the program, emphasized that giving people cash allows them to spend it on what they actually need. A financial advisor will assist students receiving the funding to ensure they stay on track and potentially save for future education. Yvonne Garcia, Deputy Secretary of Student Support Services at New Mexico Public Education Department, explained that the program targets their highest dropout population: students who are unhoused or experiencing homelessness. If this three year pilot program shows success, NMPED officials say they could expand it to all school districts statewide, potentially transforming how states support their most vulnerable students.
