In The News

Lawmakers voice concerns over use of Amira AI in public schools By Leah Romero, Source NM (September 2, 2026)

Amira Learning weighs in as parents, lawmakers question AI reading tool in NM schools KOB 4 (September 1, 2026)

“The company’s CEO Mark Angel said recordings are necessary so the program can evaluate whether a student is doing well, and added recordings are stored so teachers can also review them. “We have to process that oral reading. That’s how Amira does her job, just in the same way that a human, a person, would listen to a student and use that listening to understand when the student is reading successfully and when they’re having challenges,” said Angel.”

…[Rep. Linda Serrato said] “She also has concerns that children won’t recognize the difference between artificial intelligence and a real person. “We need…kids to understand that AI is not a person. It’s not [sentient]. You know, it doesn’t care about you or I.'‘

…”But for parents like Dailey, whose children already know how to read, she’s still concerned about AI in the classroom. “Parents need to be made aware of this and give their permission, just like when we have to register, and they ask permission for pictures and what not to be used…”

Piden mayor control sobre el uso de la IA en las escuelas públicas de Nuevo México Telemundo NM (August 28, 2026)

In Las Cruces, pushback and skepticism over Amira By Algernon D’Ammassa, Albuquerque Journal (August 27, 2026)

“Board member Bob Wofford asked for any data showing how well Amira is helping students compared to other programs or methods, but Miller-Tomlinson said little was available, as Amira is only in its second year at LCPS and the first year’s performance would be affected by classrooms learning how to use the program and equipment.”

Amid parent backlash, APS keeps AI reading program with changes By Natalie Robbins, Albuquerque Journal (August 26, 2026)

“As the school year starts across New Mexico, several districts have already opted out of the PED requirement in favor of non-AI programs. Since the beginning of the month, 15 of the state’s 89 districts and one charter school have refused the program…”

“On Monday, a group of more than 30 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle signed a letter addressed to PED Secretary Mariana Padilla, requesting that the agency ask for parental consent before using Amira and provide the public information about its functionality.”

COMMENTARY SALLY DERADKE, Albuquerque parents want answers, choices on Amira By Sally DeRadke, Santa Fe New Mexico (August 17, 2026)

LCPS disables retention of student voice recordings after parent data concerns By Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News (August 16, 2026)

Amira addresses concerns over student data and privacy KOAT Action News (August 14, 2026)

Amid privacy concerns, New Mexico eases rules for AI reading test By Natalie Robbins, Albuquerque Journal (August 10, 2026)

“To make Amira a better listener, the program needs to listen to student voices, Angel said, so the software does use recordings to “train” the program, but only to improve its own performance.”

“New Mexico spends $2.7 million on Amira yearly for software use, professional development, data analysis and other additional tutoring and support programs, Angel said. The cost of the statewide assessment alone is $1.4 million.”

“The PED picks up the tab for most of the cost of the statewide assessment on Amira, so APS pays around $38,000 for the testing component, Salazar said, though district officials could not say Monday how much APS spends on the tutoring portion of Amira.”

OPINION: Parents deserve alternatives to AI-based school assessments By Lisa Marchiondo, Albuquerque Journal (August 8, 2026)

Santa Fe schools among districts aiming to opt out of AI literacy test By André Salkin, Santa Fe New Mexican (August 7, 2026)

“The state Public Education Department issued a memo Tuesday following an upswell of parents submitting forms to their children’s districts seeking waivers to Amira testing and an Albuquerque petition against Amira that has garnered nearly 700 signatures.”

“He [Mark Angel, Amira’s CEO] confirmed recordings are used to train the company’s AI models.”

“Albuquerque Public Schools, the state’s largest district, has stayed the course on the tool.”

Meet Amira, an AI reading tutor alarming some parents and school leaders in New Mexico By Tyler Kingkade, NBC News (August 7, 2026)

Concerns about A-I in the classroom even though its mandated by NM PED KOAT Action News (August 7, 2026)

School Districts Push Back Against State-Required AI Reading Assessments By Natalie Robbins, Albuquerque Journal (August 4, 2026)

APS and SFPS differ on AI as new school year approaches KOB 4 (August 4, 2026)

Distritos escolares de Nuevo México divididos por el uso de IA en las aulas Telemundo NM (August 4, 2026)

AI Company’s Data Collection Raises Red Flags for a PPS Board Member By Joanna Hou, Willamette Week (June 23, 2026)

My View Ifeoma Ozoma Get unvetted AI out of New Mexico schools By Ifeoma Ozoma, Santa Fe New Mexican (July 13, 2026)

AI Company’s Data Collection Raises Red Flags for a PPS Board Member By Joanna Hou, Willamette Week (June 23, 2026)

'Pockets of experimentation:' Santa Fe teachers embrace AI without clear policies By André Salkin, Santa Fe New Mexican (May 14, 2026)