Education Reform
Our Goal is to advocate for education policies and practices that will lead to a direct improvement in the academic achievement of students in public schools and give every child the opportunity to receive a high-quality education that adequately prepares them for success in college, the workforce, and life.
Our Core Beliefs:
- Every child is capable of learning and improving academically, regardless of their background, upbringing, demographics, or disabilities
- The success of New Mexico’s schools should be measured primarily by whether students are learning
- Academic performance is alarmingly low in New Mexico and likely hampered further by the COVID-19 pandemic; prior to the pandemic, just 3 in 10 students read on grade level and 1 in 4 did not graduate from high school.
- Closing persistent achievement gaps and improving the equity of educational opportunities will be required to make long-term academic gains
- Intervening early with struggling students is critical to preventing children from becoming discouraged in later grades and dropping out
- Our schools are the workforce pipeline for New Mexico’s employers; current academic achievement data significantly hurts business recruitment and growth
The Chamber’s Education Reform Policy Planks
- Measure academic achievement in a consistent and transparent way; use data to support struggling students, turn around low-performing schools, and replicate success
- Develop and empower effective school leaders
- Provide more high-quality education options for all students
- Expand access to high-quality early childhood education programs
Progress and Initiatives
Public Charter School Growth
- Assemble a committee of local leaders to work with directors of high-quality charter schools on opening another campus, adding grade levels, or expanding enrollment.
- Maintain bipartisan opposition in the Legislature to charter school enrollment caps and moratoria on new charter schools.
- Work to pass legislation making it easier – and more equitable – for charter schools to lease, buy, or build high-quality school facilities.
Early Childhood Workforce
- Work with state leaders, early childhood practitioners, and our non-profit partners to cultivate a well-prepared and professionalized early childhood education workforce.
Albuquerque Reads Re-Launch
- Lead a successful in-person re-launch of the Chamber’s ABQ Reads program, which provides literacy instruction from volunteer tutors to struggling K-1 readers in APS.
Apprentice Development, Homegrown Workforce
- Explore the possibility of bringing an innovative apprenticeship program to Albuquerque and/or expanding efforts to place young people in the workplace to learn professional skills, with the goals of building a stronger homegrown workforce and providing kids an opportunity to see meaningful career and college pathways.
Emphasize Learning, Dollars in the Classroom
- Support the rigorous measurement of academic progress in order to help struggling students and schools, and focus education dollars in the classroom – particularly COVID relief funding.
BACK TO SCHOOL – AND LOOKING AHEAD: Chamber Endorses Incoming PED Secretary’s Stance on Use of COVID Money for Learning
Yesterday was officially Albuquerque Public Schools’ first day of school, for those schools that didn’t head back early. After more than a year of remote …
CONGRATS, GRADS!: Local Charter Continues to Defy the Odds
Last month, Mission Achievement and Success Charter School celebrated another graduating class of outstanding personal and academic achievement. School leaders announced that every one of …
SOLARE COLLEGIATE: ABQ Charter in the Business of Defying Odds
With an extraordinary school year just weeks away from being in the rearview mirror, we’re spotlighting a charter school the Chamber supported through its launch …
BREAKING: 75% of Bernalillo County Residents Support Expanding Public Charter School Options
Hot off the presses! A recent survey of Bernalillo County residents, conducted by Research & Polling Inc. near the end of 2020, shows overwhelming public …
LEADERSHIP ABQ: 2020-2021 Class Programming Underway
The Chamber’s 2020-2021 class of Leadership Albuquerque is in full swing! The cohort has now completed two program days: one focusing on the state of …
REPORT: Charter Schools Show Larger Achievement Gains – Especially for Low-Achieving Students
Earlier this month, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released a special report titled “The Impact of Ohio Charter Schools on Student Outcomes, 2016–19.” The report …
ALBUQUERQUE READS: Big Changes to Chamber Literacy Program in 2020-2021, Same Goals for High-Needs Kids
The Chamber announced this week that it will be adjusting the long-running Albuquerque Reads partnership with Albuquerque Public Schools for the 2020-2021 school year in …
A Day to Learn About Learning: Leadership Albuquerque Class Meets With Educational Leaders and Policymakers As Part Of Early and K-12 Education Program Day
Last month, the Chamber’s 2019-2020 Leadership Albuquerque cohort took part in this year’s Early & K-12 Education Program Day, covering public education funding policy, new …
Funding Stability: Chamber Endorses Permanent Fund for Early Childhood Education and Care; Governor’s Budget Recommendation Proposes a $320 Million One-Time Appropriation To Fund
Last month, the Chamber’s Board voted unanimously to support the creation of a new endowment fund to support and expand early childhood programs in New …
Economic Development Award: Chamber Receives Award From New Mexico Gas Company Supporting Advocacy Work for Bold Issues Groups
At the Chamber’s Education Reform Bold Issues Group event this week, New Mexico Gas Company Manager of Economic Development and Community Affairs Mary Homan presented …