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Opinion editorials Handling of Pit Appeal Calls for a Time-Out |
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opinion editorialsThis editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers
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Monday, April 18, 2011
Repealing 180 Days of School Wrong Choice
Gov. Susana Martinez, who campaigned as an education reformer and made it a top legislative agenda item, had a choice about how New Mexico school calendars would be structured. She went with status quo instead of bold change.
Two bills landed on her desk this session. House Bill 555 would have delayed until 2012-13 implementation of a true 180-day school year, 150 days for districts on a four-day-a-week schedule. (The average number of instructional days statewide now is 176). Sponsor Rep. Rhonda King, D-Stanley, was willing to put implementation of her 2009 reform off for a second year in light of budget constraints. Senate Bill 145, sponsored by Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, and others, sought to repeal King's reform and let districts keep counting instructional hours over actual days.
Kernan says adding days doesn't necessarily add instructional time and limits districts' flexibility in providing teacher professional development time. She also points out the cost — estimated at $12.89 million per additional day statewide — is prohibitive. She has a point; there is always a way to game a system, and money is tight. But King stands firm in the belief students benefit more if they are on task for a full 180 days, and adding a few minutes to make up for days lost to bad weather or other reasons is not the same as a full school day. The Legislative Finance Committee analysis supports King's stance, saying the funding formula covers the legally required number of days plus professional development days and time on task is a critical component of student achievement.
The governor pocket-vetoed King's bill and signed Kernan's. Chalk one up for the status quo.
If our schools are to improve, real changes are needed. King, her fellow lawmakers and the governor should work together to ensure students aren't short-changed on time in class with effective teachers.
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