§ 22-13-5 NMSA 1978

School districts shall provide special education and related services appropriate to meet the needs of students requiring special education and related services. Rules and standards shall be developed and established by the department for the provision of special education in the schools and classes of the public school system in the state and in all institutions wholly or partly supported by the state. The department shall monitor and enforce the rules and standards. School districts shall also provide services for three-year-old and four-year-old preschool children with disabilities, unless the parent or guardian chooses not to enroll the child. Services for students age three through twenty-one may include, but are not limited to, evaluating particular needs, providing learning experiences that develop cognitive and social skills, arranging for or providing related services as defined by the department and providing parent education. The services may be provided by licensed school employees or contracted for with other community agencies and shall be provided in age-appropriate, integrated settings, including home, daycare centers, head start programs, schools or community-based settings.