Written by Rebecca Dow
A chance for all children
New Mexico parents and families are aware of the countless flaws in New Mexico's K-12 education system, and sadly, in many cases, they have given up expecting poor outcomes. While Gov. Lujan Grisham and legislative Democrats tout increased spending, policymakers are embracing reforms that have worked in many states, from Arizona's education savings accounts to the “Mississippi Miracle.” is refusing.
A new study from the U.S. Department of Education includes findings that should prompt policymakers to reform New Mexico's broken education system. According to the 2023 Integrated Performance Review Report, New Mexico does not meet most federal requirements related to statewide education services, and most practices require modification.
The 60 PED requirements reviewed by USDE fell within its lowest rating. New Mexico received no recognition. These findings highlight the fact that the mandates contained in the Yazzie Martinez case have not brought about the necessary improvements. This is true for disadvantaged students, but it is also true for the system.
PED's failure to meet federal requirements raises serious concerns about states' ability to provide a quality education to all students. Even more alarming, USDE found, is the inability of PEDs to produce timely, complete, and accurate data. The Department cited one example in which incorrect participation rates for the 2022 English Language Learner Proficiency Test were reported by PED to USDE.
Among the 60 serious issues to be addressed related to New Mexico schools were accounting systems, accounting controls, and internal controls. Sadly, the federal report also faulted New Mexico for its lack of data quality and lack of effort to track student performance. The following were all found to have significant compliance/quality concerns:
Condition assessment requirements.
Responsibility system.
Support for school improvement.and
State and local report cards.
Finally, in several categories related to “preparing, training, and recruiting quality teachers, principals, and other school leaders,” New Mexico ranks in the lowest category with significant compliance/quality concerns. It turned out that there is. Obviously, higher salaries and benefits like housing and insurance may be attractive, but they may not be enough to retain teachers if PEDs are interfering with their ability to do the job they love and know best. do not have.
New Mexico's over-regulation and top-down mandates are forcing experienced educators out of work, leading to a shortage of qualified teachers and school leaders. Salaries alone cannot compensate for the negative effects of bureaucratic interference on educators' morale and ability to teach effectively.
The current approach of pouring more money into a broken education system is not producing the desired results. Since the Yazzie and Marinez cases, the state has pumped millions of dollars in new funding into its K-12 education system, but its PED rankings remain at the bottom of the nation. It's time to embrace school choice. Many states facing similar challenges have achieved positive outcomes by allowing funding to send students to the schools that best meet their needs, whether public, private, or parochial. I am. This method has been proven to improve student outcomes and could be a solution to addressing New Mexico's education workforce crisis.
Introducing school choice not only empowers families to choose the best education option for their children, it also gives educators the freedom to choose where they teach. This approach ensures that all students, especially those in low-performing public schools, have access to a quality education. It is imperative that New Mexico prioritizes the needs of students and educators by allowing students to follow resources to schools that can effectively address their individual needs.
New Mexico especially needs to take bold steps to introduce school choice for both students and educators. This would put an end to continued inconsistent rulemaking for PEDs. Prioritize the well-being of students and educators alike, and provide them with opportunities to thrive in an environment that best suits their needs. At this point, school selection is literally the last option left.
Rebecca Dow is the project manager for Opportunity for All Kids, an education reform project of the New Mexico-based Rio Grande Foundation.