Albuquerque Schools Spent Funds on Anti-Racism Training
The district allocated significant federal pandemic relief money to professional training initiatives from 2021 to 2023.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Administration
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Albuquerque Public Schools utilized federal pandemic relief funds to finance anti-racism training programs for district staff between 2021 and 2023. At least 721 staff members participated in these workshops during that period.
Why it matters
The district stated that the program was intended to improve student attendance and academic achievement throughout the school system. While professional training moved forward, a proposed student-focused anti-racism component was ultimately not implemented.
Albuquerque Public Schools spent nearly $700,000 on anti-racism training, far exceeding the initial $336,500 approval. By July 2022, 721 staff members had attended the sessions, and a 2023 estimate for continued training was set at $27,000.
The players
Albuquerque Public Schools
This is the primary public school district serving the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Anti-Racism Training Institute of the Southwest
This organization delivered professional development workshops to district staff members.
People's Institute for Survival and Beyond
This group provides anti-racism training frameworks that were incorporated into the district program.
The details
The district engaged the Anti-Racism Training Institute of the Southwest to deliver sessions incorporating principles from the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond. Principals and assistant principals underwent training during the 2020-21 school year, though a planned rollout for students across 10 targeted schools was abandoned.
Timeline
Principals and assistant principals participated in training during the 2020-21 school year.
The district approved $336,500 for the training program in 2021.
By July 2022, 721 staff members had attended training sessions.
A student anti-racism program was proposed during the fall 2022 semester.
The district received a $27,000 estimate for training services in 2023.
Culture Shift
This program aligns with a trend of school districts using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund resources to implement social-emotional and equity-focused training. It illustrates how districts navigated federal spending flexibility to address internal cultural initiatives rather than strictly academic or physical infrastructure upgrades.
Residents and parents may see continued discussion regarding how federal pandemic relief funds are prioritized within the district budget. The cancellation of the proposed student component means that classroom-level exposure to this specific curriculum did not occur as originally planned.
The takeaway
The district's pivot from staff-focused training to the cancellation of the student program highlights the shifting priorities of educational administrators. Understanding these spending decisions is essential for community members tracking the use of federal recovery funds.
Further reading
Learn more about local school operations in the Administration section.
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Should your local school district prioritize student academic recovery over ideological teacher training programs?
