Other states race ahead on school reform

According to a report from McKinsey & Company between school closures and reduced instructional time, the average U.S. child has lost the equivalent of five to nine months of learning during the pandemic. New Mexico students have lost more than most.

With government school systems in SO MANY states failing their students over the past year, legislatures and other elected officials are rushing to offer choices and opportunities to students in their jurisdictions.

You can see a full list from EdChoice here. Jason Bedrick of EdChoice writes, “In total, 14 states have enacted 18 new or expanded educational choice policies so far this year. In addition to the above, we are expecting further new or expanded choice policies in at least six states.” You can see which states are enacting reforms below.

Unfortunately, New Mexico’s union-beholden political leadership has NOT enacted any reforms.

Some of the most exciting reforms are in the following five states which have enacted brand new education choice programs:

• Arkansas (SB 680): New tax-credit scholarship for students from low-income families (up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line) who are switching out of public school or entering kindergarten or first grade.
• Indiana (HEA 1001): New ESA for students with special needs from families earning up to 555 percent of the federal poverty line.
• Kentucky (HB 563): New tax-credit ESA for students from low- and middle-income families (up to about 324 percent of the federal poverty line).
• Missouri (HB 349): New tax-credit ESA for students from low- and middle-income families (up to about 370 percent of the federal poverty line) who are switching out of public school or entering kindergarten or first grade. (Note: this bill passed both legislative chambers but is still pending the governor’s signature.)
• West Virginia (HB 2013): New ESA for all students switching out of public school or entering kindergarten or first grade.