TalkoftheTown: Real education reform remains elusive in legislative session

Individualized math plans could finally move the needle

Anyone who has attended a Lobo basketball game in the Pit knows the levels of energy and excitement that exist in that arena. You are struck by the high-quality coaching, disciplined play, and most strikingly, the level of fan support

After attending the kickoff meetings of the House and Senate education committees in Santa Fe, I can’t help but wonder how we can capture that same level of excitement for our education system in New Mexico? Because, as the recent NAEP (National Assessment of Education Progress) results show, our state’s education system is in desperate need of that level of energy.

So far, education reform is non-existent in the legislative session. Beyond a possible cellphone ban and a few funding formula tweaks, there does not seem to be an appetite for an ambitious focus on improving student achievement. A resolution to revert to the failed state board of education model seems like we’re just recycling an idea that already didn’t work.

Perhaps we’ve grown comfortable being 50th? Perhaps we don’t think these achievement reports matter? Thank the Lobo gods that Richard Pitino doesn’t tell his players that the scoreboard doesn’t matter.

The Public Education Department has implemented some thoughtful and intentional focus on early literacy, and we should give those programs time to evaluate how they are truly affecting outcomes. Additionally, House Memorial 2 in this legislative session represents an important step in understanding how generative artificial intelligence is upending everything we thought we knew about reading and writing instruction.

But an innovative approach to math instruction is perhaps what is needed most in New Mexico. An ambitious bill that requires every student in the state to be placed on an individualized math plan — think individualized education program for math and for everyone — could really start to move the needle.

At East Mountain High School, we’ve reshaped how math instruction is delivered by adopting a thinking classroom approach. Students are no longer sitting in seats, practicing the same problems, and listening to the same lectures we’ve listened to for the past 50 years. Our students are working in collaborative groups, moving around the room, demonstrating the learning, and explaining mathematical concepts in a joyful, rigorous way.

Since implementing this innovative approach to math instruction, we’ve seen PSAT scores grow by 20% within a single school year.

Education in New Mexico has no shortage of bright spots and winning formulas. Groups like NewMexicoKidsCan and Excellent Schools New Mexico are devoted to telling those stories and helping high quality schools expand. The Lobo basketball program has stumbled upon a winning formula, and we have that same level of education talent here in New Mexico. It’s now time to embed those winning ideas into our policy making process.

The Senate Education Committee may never be as rowdy as the Pit, but we can start to create conditions that give us all that same level of pride in our education system. With visionary leadership, innovative instruction and strong community support, we can change the conversation about education in New Mexico

TREY SMITH

Executive director, East Mountain High School

Biogas a false solution to reducing carbon emissions

The Clean Transportation Fuel Standard Act passed by the Legislature in the 2024 regular session and signed into law by the governor on March 5 at first glance appears to reduce oil and gas emissions. How? By allowing “big oil and gas” to buy carbon credits from the production of biogas that likely comes from “big-ag” and mega-dairies in our state.

This is a false solution for reducing carbon emissions because biogas generated from cow manure, for example, is methane — the primary contributor to ground-level ozone and 80 times more potent in climate warming than CO2. Let us not incentivize big ag and mega-dairies to jump into this windfall opportunity that will likely increase their carbon footprints.

Here we sit in a water crisis, yet data show that agriculture uses more than 80% of the state’s freshwater. Mega-dairies are part of that huge water draw as they grow alfalfa fields to use as cow feed.

Mega-dairies in New Mexico already pose a massively negative impact. We who live in central and northern New Mexico are largely spared, but not so for folks who live in the eastern and southeastern regions. These herds produce enormous amounts of manure daily.

Manure is thrown into lagoons. The contaminated water is then sprayed onto alfalfa fields as fertilizer, spewing bacteria and other particles into the air, yielding documented illnesses in residents living nearby. Additionally, ground water pollution has made well water undrinkable.}

As a Food and Water Watch volunteer from Santa Fe, I ask you to take action to support the passage of Senate Bill 99, a bill that rescinds the gross carbon credit advantage given to agricultural-based biogas.

Call the Senate Conservation Committee, and the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee, where the bill is being considered. Then contact your legislators personally to ensure this bill is passed.

JULIE SPROTT

Santa Fe