Governor Bill Richardson Unveils State Report Card On School Performance

(The report card, Q&A and sources for the grades are attached.)

Governor Richardson delivered the following remarks during a news conference today at Santa Fe High School:

When I ran for Governor, I had a simple campaign promise for education - to invest in the classroom, and move New Mexico's schools forward.

Along the way, we have made a lot of progress toward making our schools work and preparing our children for the future - which is evident by the report card behind me. But we have more work to do - which this report card also reveals.

We've shifted money from administration to the classroom. But it's not enough. I want to go beyond the national average of 62 percent and reach a higher standard - 65 percent of the money in the classroom.

We invested nearly $196 million in teacher salaries and compensation. As a result, New Mexico moved from 46th to 41st in the nation in average teacher salaries. But I'm not satisfied and we've tied these increases to tough licensing standards. We will increase that investment next year, and continue our climb out of the statistical cellar.

Last year we invested $198 million in new, modern facilities with smaller classrooms and 21st Century technology. But many communities still need help. In a few weeks, we're going to announce about $162 million in additional improvements, including major investments in the fastest growing communities.

Before I cover the steps we're taking to improve our grades on this report card, I want recognize the people who are truly responsible for making schools work. I'm talking about the teachers in the classroom...the students who want opportunities...and the parents who want the best for their kids.

Please give them all a big hand.

Our goal, as we continue to Move New Mexico Forward, is to strengthen the partnership among parents, children and schools to make schools work.

TEACHERS/CLASSROOM

As I said, I am preparing to continue my investment in quality teachers and the front-line staff who work every day with students in the classroom.

Next month, we will announce a pay package that accomplishes two things:

1. One, I want to move up in the rankings and continue to retain and

recruit quality teachers in the classroom tying better salaries to high standards.

2. Two, I'm going to demand more accountability and require our

schools to publicly disclose how they spend taxpayer dollars - make this easily available to our parents and local communities.

STUDENTS

I want to focus on higher standards and more help for schools that need a boost. At the same time, I want to build on programs that create a healthy learning environment for students.

Our students have to be ready to learn, whether they are pre-kindergartners or high school students. That means expanding my anti-obesity initiative (requiring more physical classes), and getting rid of junk food in schools, and meeting the huge demand for Pre K across the state.

That also means going the extra mile to close the opportunity gap that Secretary Garcia talked about. That gap exists because far too many students either lack opportunities, or fail to take advantage of opportunities. That is a failure that we as a society cannot allow.

I will continue to push for programs like intensive summer institutes to provide quality teacher training that focuses on reading and math.

I also want to invest in Baldridge training strategies, especially for teachers working with high poverty and Limited English Proficiency students. I am especially disturbed by the lack of improvement for those students in math and reading.

PARENTAL PARTNERSHIPS

The most glaring weakness on this report card is that C-plus for our partnership with parents. You might call that a mediocre grade. I call it unacceptable.

One of my top priorities next legislative session - in the Year of the Child - will be reaching out and partnering with parents to do what's best for New Mexico's kids.

I will renew my push to create employer incentives that encourage parental participation at schools. I will also consider incentives that encourage parent/teacher meetings at more convenient times for working families.

I'm doing my part tonight to foster these partnerships. I will attend one of many community conversations that Education Secretary Veronica Garcia is holding across the state. I will sit at the table with parents from Cibola High School in Albuquerque to explore solutions that make the most sense for that West Side community.

Making schools work in New Mexico means a true partnership among parents, teachers and students. Every New Mexico child deserves a good education and an opportunity to succeed. We've made progress - but we must move New Mexico's schools forward if we are to prepare our children to compete in the 21st century.

We can do it - working together.

#30#