Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla
PED News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico high school students will have access to as many as 3,000 paid summer internships next year, giving them hands-on work experience in careers ranging from health care to technology.
The New Mexico Public Education Department’s (PED) Summer Enrichment Internship Program, launched in 2021, is expanding through a new statewide coalition led by Education at Work. The eight-week internships will focus on high-demand industries identified by the Department of Workforce Solutions.
“Students from every corner of our state can explore careers, gain hands-on skills and chart a path to a meaningful future,” Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla said.
“As AI and automation transform the nature of first jobs and early career experiences, students need to graduate not just with an education, but with practical, hands-on work experience,” said Jane Swift, chief executive officer of Education at Work and former governor of Massachusetts. “That’s why forward-thinking states like New Mexico are integrating career exploration and real-world learning earlier in the K–12 journey—so more students can build the skills, confidence and connections they’ll need to thrive in a changing economy.”
Other partners include American Student Assistance and the Work-Based Learning Alliance. American Student Assistance will provide career exploration tools, structured learning activities and program management. The Work-Based Learning Alliance will use its technology platform to guide students through structured activities and a final project to help them reflect on their experiences and plan for college, job training or employment after high school.
Research from American Student Assistance (ASA) shows that fewer than half of Gen Z students feel they have enough information to choose the right path after high school—highlighting the need for early exposure to real-world careers. And while nearly 80 percent of high school students say they want work experience before graduation, only 34 percent know about available opportunities and just 2 percent have completed an internship. More information is available in ASA’s Degrees of Risk study on Gen Z career pathways and its Work-Based Learning Best Practices guide, which features New Mexico as a national model.
New Mexico employers—from local small businesses to national companies with a presence in the state—are invited to host paid high school interns. To learn more and sign up to participate, interested companies can contact nminterns@eaw.org.