.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would require public schools to extend the school year to help students catch up on the loss of learning during the pandemic. The measure would stretch the next school year by 25 days for K-5 students and 10 days for most 6-12 schools by requiring them to participate in already funded extended learning programs. Schools were slow to embrace the programs, citing staffing issues, despite the fact that more work would increase teacher take-home pay by 6% to 14% depending on the grade level. The programs were eventually canceled because of the pandemic.