Education

Governor Bill Richardson:

I [will] focus on improving student success, & responsibly implementing critical reforms. My education plan provides for retention of quality teachers, completes the implementation of statewide full-day kindergarten, creates an extensive student testing program to accurately gauge student progress, and puts in place significant reform initiatives such as family resource services to meet student social service needs, taking the pressure off teachers so they can concentrate on teaching our children. Source: State of the State speech to the New Mexico Legislature Jan 20, 2004 During his first year in office, Governor Richardson worked with educators, business leaders, labor activists, rural towns, urban communities, Republicans and Democrats to make major changes in New Mexico's public schools. The governor helped to convince voters to invest money in classrooms, not administration, while holding teachers and students accountable. The changes have resulted in 8 percent pay raises for teachers, and a new professional salary system that is the envy of the nation.

Governor Richardson's Pre-Kindergarten Policy Initiative

Governor Richardson wants every child in New Mexico to have the opportunity to attend a quality PreK program.  As part of Moving NM Forward, voluntary PreK is an essential element in the overall approach to meeting the critical needs of children. We believe New Mexico will be stronger when all children—no matter their background or neighborhood—have the chance to get ready for success in school and in life.  Here’s why we are so committed to our goal:

• 90% of brain growth occurs before age 5, when most kids enter kindergarten
• Children who go to quality preschool do better in K-12, lifting a burden off public schools that now struggle to help kids catch up
• Nearly half of New Mexico 4-year-olds go without preschool

• Increase access to voluntary high-quality pre-kindergarten programs
• Provide developmentally appropriate activities for New Mexico children
• Expand early childhood community capacity
• Support linguistically and culturally appropriate  curriculum
• Focus on  school readiness
  

Pre-K Links:

New Mexico Kids, Parents and Families:
http://newmexicokids.org/Family/?view=/Resource/Pre-K/Initiative/

Program Standards:
http://newmexicokids.org/Resource/Pre-K/Initiative/ProgramStandards.pdf

Learning Outcomes:
http://newmexicokids.org/Resource/Pre-K/Initiative/LearningOutcome.pdf