“Rebuilding New Mexico Starts With Education”

Albuquerque, NM – Peggy Muller-Aragon, an elementary school teacher in Albuquerque, released the following statement in support of Governor Susana Martinez’s education reforms:

“I believe rebuilding New Mexico starts with education. Governor Martinez has made education reform a top priority, and that takes courage and leadership. Martinez has introduced accountability and a renewed focus on student achievement. The results are clear: math and reading scores are up, and we have made major strides in graduation rates. Now is not the time to go backward.”

Governor Martinez is working hard to reform New Mexico’s school system and give children better opportunities for the future.  New Mexico now spends more money on education than ever before.  Reading and math scores are up. Just last week, New Mexico saw the largest improvement in graduation rates out of any state. And the state is beginning to close the achievement gap.  Recently, Hispanic students ranked number one in the country for their success in Advanced Placement courses, and New Mexico’s poor children ranked second, demonstrating that they are better prepared for higher education.

In contrast, Gary King wants to bring back the failed policies of Bill Richardson.  He supports social promotion, which passes our kids from one grade to the next even when they have not mastered the basics and cannot read.  King will take classroom control away from teachers and put it back into the hands of the special interests, union bosses who have an agenda outside our children’s education.