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.
