New Mexico. Dept. of Education.

The Territorial Board of Education and the Territorial Superintendent of Schools were both established by a legislative act in 1863. In 1891 a legislative act abolished the Territorial Superintendent of Schools (1891 Laws of N.M., Ch. 25, Sec. 45). The same legislative act established the Superintendent of Public Instruction (1891 Laws of N.M., Ch. 25, Sec. 45). Upon New Mexico's attainment of statehood in 1912, the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction were established by the New Mexico State Constitution (Art. 12, Sec. 6). The Department of Education was established by a legislative act in 1967 (1967 Laws of N.M., Ch. 16, Sec. 9). The Department's purpose is to supervise all public schools and school officials in New Mexico. The Department is subject to the policies of the State Board of Education and the direction of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.