COMPANY NAME
123 Business Rd, Cityville, ST 12345 | contact@company.com
June 13, 2026
John Doe
456 Client Avenue
Metropolis, NY 10001
Thank you for your continued partnership with Company Name. We are writing to formally update you on our upcoming service enhancements scheduled for the third quarter of this year.
Our new infrastructure will provide faster response times and improved reliability, directly addressing the feedback we received from you and other valued clients last month.
Please review the attached documentation for further details on how this transition will affect your current service tier. We are fully committed to making this a seamless update.
Sincerely,
Jane Smith
Director of Operations
Dear New Mexicans,
Our state is ranked last in the country for education. Many parents and grandparents are concerned about the poor quality of education in NM schools as well as other issues including transgender and race-based ideological indoctrination, pressure about healthcare choices, and bullying.
We know the idea of homeschooling can seem daunting. However, homeschooling typically does NOT require teaching your kids 6-8 hours/day. In fact, for elementary age kids, homeschooling generally only takes 1-2 hours of focused time/day. There are also hybrid alternatives that can work well to allow kids to take some classes at school while also homeschooling. If you're new to the topic, homeschooling is probably simpler than you think it is!
Homeschoolers typically out-perform kids who attend regular school in standardized testing. They also tend to be happier, more responsible, and better-adjusted in comparison to kids attending public school.
And even when a family has two parents working, there are ways to make homeschooling successful. For example, Sarah Smith (the NMFA Executive Member sending you this email), works several part-time jobs and her husband works full-time. Sarah has been homeschooling her two kids for 13+ years. Though it can be trickier, we know of single parents who also homeschool their kids as well.
In this email, we are sharing practical information and resources for those who are considering homeschooling as an alternative to public school.
Please scroll below 👇👇👇 for more information about:
• Legal requirements for homeschooling in NM
• Getting started with homeschooling
• Homeschool groups and co-ops in NM
• Hybrid schooling
• Approaches to homeschooling
• Curriculum
NOTE: There is an easy-to-share version of this information on our website here: https://www.nmfa.us/post/concerned-about-kids-schooling-info-about-alternatives
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HOMESCHOOLING IN NEW MEXICO
New Mexico's home schooling requirements are very simple in comparison to other states. Briefly, these are the requirements:
• To be qualified to home school you must have a high school diploma or GED. The home school operator must be the parent or legal guardian. (However, someone else may provide instruction in a given subject.)
• Once a year, you must notify the NM Public Education Department of your intent to homeschool. This needs to be done within 30 days of withdrawing your kids from public/private school, and annually by August 1st for each year thereafter. The form and instructions can be accessed here: https://web.ped.nm.gov/bureaus/options-for-parents-and-families/home-schooling/
• Homeschoolers are required to teach for the required number of days that your local public school is in session, generally 180-190 days. (NOTE: NM does NOT require homeschoolers to submit any attendance or other records for homeschooling.)
• Homeschoolers are required to teach reading, language arts, math, social studies and science.
• Homeschoolers are required to maintain immunization records. You can obtain an exemption for religious or medical reasons here: https://www.nmhealth.org/about/phd/idb/imp/sreq/
These two sites may be helpful for more information:
• Homeschool Legal Defense Association: https://hslda.org/post/how-to-comply-with-new-mexicos-homeschool-law
• NM PED Frequently Asked Questions: https://web.ped.nm.gov/bureaus/options-for-parents-and-families/home-schooling/frequently-asked-questions/
GETTING STARTED WITH HOMESCHOOLING
Here are several videos and articles for new or struggling homeschoolers:
• 3-min video: What about socialization?
• 10-min video: Deschooling to get off to a good start with homeschooling
• 23-min video: Curriculum is less important than you think
• Article: How to create a sustainable, joyful homeschool
• Article: Homeschooling ages 0-8
• Article: Homeschooling ages 8-12
• Article: Self-directed high school homeschooling
HOMESCHOOL GROUPS AND CO-OPS IN NEW MEXICO
One of the most important strategies for homeschool success is to get connected with other homeschoolers in your local area. Homeschooling groups provide support, classes, field trips, and resources to each other.
Here are some NM homeschooling groups that may be helpful. This is not an exhaustive list; if your local area is not listed here, it is recommended to search on Facebook to find local homeschool groups.
Statewide:
• Homeschooling in NM - https://www.facebook.com/groups/351381014948413
• Christian Association of Parent Educators (CAPE) - https://www.cape-nm.org/
Albuquerque:
• Albuquerque Homeschool Resource List - https://www.facebook.com/groups/418081578253435
• ABQ Homeschool Connection - https://www.facebook.com/ABQHomeschoolConnection
• Albuquerque Christian Homeschoolers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1597821683771001/
• NM Albuquerque Homeschool Friends - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2385909278190013/
• Westside ABQ - Rio Rancho Homeschoolers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/447753998744589/
• Conservative homeschool group Westside/Rio Rancho - https://www.facebook.com/groups/233181308655283/
• ADHD/ADD/ODD/Autism Secular Homeschoolers - Rio Rancho/Albuquerque - https://www.facebook.com/groups/542818954015050/
Carlsbad
• Carlsbad New Mexico Any Age Homeschool Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1587938778109983/
Edgewood/East Mountains:
• Edgewood Homeschoolers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1756091918006080/
• East Mountain Homeschoolers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/213477194095971/
Las Cruces:
• Home Educators in Las Cruces and Southern New Mexico - https://www.facebook.com/groups/HomeschoolLasCruces
• Roadrunner Homeschoolers - Sarah Smith organizes this group with every-other-Wednesday park days, book clubs, spelling bees, field trips, etc. This group is not on social media. Email: concernedfornm@gmail.com
• Homegrown Heroes Academy - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557597389215
• Classical Conversations of Las Cruces - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554622228180
Los Alamos
• Los Alamos Homeschoolers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/708684245841950/
Otero County/Alamogordo:
• Otero County Homeschool Opportunities - https://www.facebook.com/groups/878502292262545/
• Otero County Homeschool Educators - https://www.facebook.com/groups/530393760308664/
Roswell
• Roswell, NM Homeschool Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/roswellnmhomeschool/
Santa Fe:
• Santa Fe Homeschool Kids Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620741151506442/
• Santa Fe Christian Homeschool Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/SantaFeChristianHomeschoolGroup/
Valencia County/Socorro:
• Homeschool Group for Valencia/Socorro County - https://www.facebook.com/groups/584827921655542/
HYBRID SCHOOLING
Hybrid schooling refers to homeschooling your children as well as having them attend specific classes in public school.
Many homeschoolers want their children to be able to take advantage of certain public school classes, especially electives or after-school activities like music, languages, and sports. New Mexico law requires that school districts allow home school students to participate in sports and extracurricular activities.
Additionally, some NM school districts allow homeschoolers to attend other public school classes, such as science, math, language arts, etc. The provisions for this vary depending on the school district. Consult with your local school or school district to find out what may be possible for your child.
APPROACHES TO HOMESCHOOLING
Here are a few resources that will help you consider your approach to home schooling.
Articles:
• Homeschooling Methods - https://www.homeschool.com/homeschooling-methods/
• Why I Stopped Pushing in Our Homeschool - https://www.nourishedandnurturedlife.com/post/why-i-stopped-pushing-in-our-homeschool
Books:
• Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling by John Gatto - This is written by a NY State Teacher of the Year, and he talks about what is wrong with the government school system
• A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille - This is a solution to the problems laid out in Gatto's book. DeMille's mission is all about freedom and teaching kids to find their own unique missions in life.
• Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning by Oliver and Rachel DeMille – This is a book filled with practical information for “how” to homeschool effectively.
• Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray – This book is written by a developmental psychologist, and explores the foundations of learning through play.
CURRICULUM
There are many homeschooling curricula available. Some are free and some are expensive. Here are some resources:
• Ambleside Online (free)
• Khan Academy (free)
• Connections Academy (free online public school)
• Ron Paul Homeschool
• TJED High, classics-based liberal arts mentoring and discussion forum for high school kids
• Sarah Smith’s year-by-year homeschooling curriculum
• Sarah Smith’s curriculum resources for specific subjects
• Mentoring in the Classics, program for parents to learn how to educate through the classics
• Time 4 Learning
• The Good and the Beautiful
• Homeschool curriculum reviews
We hope this is helpful information for NM parents and families. Feel free to share this information with others in NM who may be interested.
Donations to support our work are gratefully accepted here:
https://www.givesendgo.com/nmfa2026
Standing with you for your children's well-being,
Sarah Smith, Melanie Rubin, and Karen Larré
New Mexico Freedoms Alliance
