New Mexico Statutes Chapter 22. Public Schools § 22-23-2. Definitions

A. “bilingual learner” means a student whose bilingualism is emerging through the development of English and a language other than English;

B. “bilingual multicultural education program” means a program using two languages, including English and the home or heritage language, as a medium of instruction in the teaching and learning process;

C. “culturally and linguistically different” means students who are of a different cultural background than mainstream United States culture and whose home or heritage language, inherited from the student's family, tribe or country of origin, is a language other than English;

D. “district” means a public school or any combination of public schools in a district;

E. “English language learner” means a student whose first or heritage language is not English and who is unable to read, write, speak or understand English at a level comparable to grade level English proficient peers and native English speakers;

F. “heritage language” means a language other than English that is inherited from a family, tribe, community or country of origin;

G. “home language” means a language other than English that is the primary or heritage language spoken at home or in the community; and

H. “standardized curriculum” means a district curriculum that is aligned with the state academic content standards, benchmarks and performance standards.