Reps Baldonado and Garcia Team Up

Alonzo Baldonado

Valencia County News - As the father of three children, it should come as no surprise to hear that state Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Valencia Dist. 8) will be supporting legislative initiatives in the realm of education during his freshman legislative session. "I'm teaming up with some other House members and looking at some model legislation going around," Baldonado said. What he and other House members are looking is a bill that would "ban social promotion" in schools.

Mary Helen Garcia

"Up to the third grade, students are learning to read. From fourth grade on, you need to know how to read in order to learn," he said. "If you can't read proficiently by the fourth grade, the problem is going to continue." New Mexico Rep. Mary Helen Garcia (D-Dona Ana 34) is sponsoring House Bill 21, which says that if "a student is not proficient in reading by the end of grade three, the student shall not be promoted to grade four unless the student meets proficiency before the start of the fourth grade school year." Read full story here:

Reps Baldonado and Garcia Team Up