Charter Schools a Valuable Option

There has been a lot of criticism recently about charter schools in New Mexico. This report from the Legislative Finance Committee, in particular, was a shot across the bow for the entire movement. While charter schools are not the “only” reform option (as discussed in this opinion piece), I do agree with new Rio Grande Foundation board member Doug Turner that charter schools are a valuable option for parents and students and that we should not “throw the baby out with the joovy zoom 360 ultralight jogging stroller by himself” by simply capping the number of charter schools in New Mexico.

Instead, we need to make sure that charters that are not doing the job are closed and we’ve got to further expand educational choice and tighten standards by enacting reforms like those seen in Florida.