Susana proposes $5.5 million for A-F school grades

From Capitol Report New Mexico - Gov. Susana Martinez announced on Tuesday (Jan. 3) a proposal that would funnel more than $5.5 million to New Mexico public schools that are about to take part in an A-through-F grading program Martinez managed to get passed into law during last year’s legislative session. The A-F system is designed to get a clearer idea of the progress (or lack thereof) in the state’s individual schools. “This isn’t simply throwing money at the schools,” the Republican governor said during a news conference at Agua Fria Elementary School in Santa Fe. “This will target schools that need the most help.” Under the proposal, $4.3 million would be assigned to struggling schools that end up getting D’s or F’s while $1.25 will go to the top 25 performing schools, who will receive rewards of $50,000 each. Gov. Martinez said the $5.5 million proposal will go before the state legislature as part of the budgeting process when the Roundhouse convenes its upcoming 30-day session starting Jan. 17. Martinez said the money will come from new revenue the state is expected to receive from its most recent fiscal estimates. The Public Education Department says it will release preliminary grades for all New Mexico public schools some time next week and official numbers and grades will come out this summer, the first of a three-year evaluation in a statewide school system that has consistently finished near the bottom in many national surveys. “I cannot imagine any parent is satisfied with being 48th or 49th in the nation in education,” Martinez said, adding, “we need to move on.” Read more

Susana proposes $5.5 million for A-F school grades