Options for school choice in New Mexico are often more limited than they appear on paper. Although school choice does exist through charter schools and small scholarship programs such as Educate New Mexico, most New Mexican students are unable to take advantage of attending high-performing schools. Most of the State’s top-performing charter schools have long waiting lists. For example, the Southwest Primary, Southwest Intermediate, and Southwest Secondary Learning Centers have a waiting list that exceeds 3,600 students and is growing every day. The Southwest Primary Learning Center averages test scores that are 50% higher than APS and other State schools. At Southwest Intermediate Learning Center, test scores are 40%-50% higher than State and APS scores. Southwest Secondary Learning Center boasts scores that are an average of 30% higher than APS and the State. These three high-achieving schools as well as other charter schools in the state are more successful than their public counterparts.
Successful schools are in high demand for New Mexican students due to the failures of the traditional system. Governor Susana Martinez frames the debate over school choice well: “I have long said it is morally reprehensible to trap kids in failing schools.” Yet, chances for families to take advantage of school choice in New Mexico are about to get slimmer. If passed, House Bill 120, introduced by Representative Mimi Stewart, will put an end to new charter schools in New Mexico from now until January 1, 2017. With a ranking of 32nd in the nation for education, this bill comes at a time when New Mexico’s families desperately need school choice. Daniel Ulibarri, Executive Director of Educate New Mexico, says, “Not only can New Mexico's children not wait another eight years or more for the schools to improve, but our economy needs — now more than ever — a competent, highly-educated work force and schools that will attract entrepreneurs from across the globe.”
Lawmakers in Santa Fe need to come to the realization that educational reform will not come through limiting options for education in New Mexico. School choice provides competition, which should create a competitive market for students. If enough students opt to attend quality charter schools, the existing public schools system will be forced to modify their approach, or cease to exist. Stanford Economics professor, Caroline M. Hoxby, has conducted extensive research on the economics of school choice and competition in the arena of education. She argues “…when we allowed competition in other areas of American life, say, deregulated some industries, we’ve seen enormous improvements in efficiencies, which in schools, means more achievement.” She goes on to say, “…public schools will be able to improve, especially in response to competition.” This positive competition can only occur if there are enough viable options.
New Mexico Secretary of Education, Hanna Skandera, puts it well: “If school choice is given a fair chance, its success or failure should be determined by results. If successful, all students – those that stay and those that leave the traditional public school system – would be better off, academically and otherwise.” School choice has not been given a fair chance in New Mexico and will not be given a fair chance if House Bill 120 is enacted. Placing a moratorium on all new charter schools for any amount of time will hinder the progress that can be made in educational reform, at a time when transformation of the traditional system is imperative.
With a ranking of 32 out of 50 states, we are failing our children. It doesn't seem like we(NM) are competing against the other countries in the world to educate our kids to a high standard. It appears we are struggling to break even when measured against other states. The future is now New Mexico, and we need to get our students up to speed so the new industry and technology jobs can be filled by New Mexicans not Chinese.
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ReplyDeleteI agree it is "morally reprehensible" to take away a parents choice to send their child to a good school. Passing HB 120 will force these parents to keep there children in a failing schools. If we take away school choice then we will soon be lower then 32nd in the nation.
ReplyDeleteWith all that is happening now with the Charter schools, do you not think that the traditional public schools would take note and work on their reform. Of the 35 charter schools in Albuquerque under scrutiny all the time and the 129 APS schools and their 12 alternative schools skating with tenure, what part are we not getting? I would presume that charter school teachers and staff don't have tenure, thus their great performance.
ReplyDeleteA parent trying desperately to get my child in a charter school.
You make an excellent point Gertrude H. traditional public school should take note and work on fixing the problems instead of wasting time fighting with charter schools that are getting the job done. APS spends so much time and energy pointing out problems with charter schools instead of fixing their own problem with their failing schools. A better use of time would be to investigate what in their school structure is failing our kids because at the end of the day it should be about the kids they are our future leader after all.
ReplyDeleteSadly, if the public schools are no longer competing with the charter schools who make them look bad they will not be pushed to reform themselves. Only in the light of comparison does one see how truly bad they are and they instead of wanting to rise to the example they simply want to put out the light and continue in mediocrity.
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