PED News:
SANTA FE — Applications are now open for the 2026 New Mexico Summer Enrichment Internship Program (SEIP), offering high school students the opportunity to earn a paycheck this summer while gaining real-world work experience.
Through this state-supported Public Education Department (PED) program, students complete eight-week paid internships with local employers, working 20 hours per week while receiving professional skills training and dedicated program support. There is no cost for students or employers to participate. The priority application deadline is March 31.
Employers host interns for approximately 14 hours per week on-site, and students complete an additional six hours of skills-based learning off-site. Student wages are fully covered through the program. The nonprofit Education at Work serves as the employer of record, managing payroll, onboarding and insurance coverage to make participation simple and low-risk for businesses.
“This is a paid opportunity and real-world experience for New Mexico students,” said Jane Swift, president of Education at Work. “For many young people, this may be their first job — and it’s one that’s paid, supported and intentionally designed to build real-world skills that prepare them for the world of work, college and life after graduation. It’s also about building homegrown talent right here in New Mexico and creating pathways for students to see a future for themselves in their own communities.”
The SEIP launched in 2021 with federal grant funding and is now supported by the New Mexico Legislature, government agencies, tribal governments, and community-based organizations statewide.
Nationally, nearly 8 in 10 high school students (79%) say they are interested in gaining work experience before graduation, but just one-third (34%) are aware of available opportunities and only 2 percent have completed an internship. In rural areas, access to paid, structured internships can be even more limited.
Students, parents and host sites can learn more and apply at www.nminterns.com.