Recent APS Vista’s data reinforces NM’s NAEP findings

Recently data from the annual New Mexico Vistas test were released. You can find the data here. Unlike the NAEP scores which were released earlier this year this is an annual report and it breaks down results by district. This post specifically addresses Albuquerque Public Schools, the State’s largest school district.

According to the ABQ Journal report on the issue, “APS saw a 2.9% decrease in graduation growth, a 2% decline in math, a 1% drop in reading proficiency and a 13% drop in regular attendance.” Sadly, the issue seems to be significantly driven by attendance problems.

According to the article, “According to the report card, 66% of New Mexico students attended school 90% of the time or more, compared with 50% of APS students.” Only HALF of APS students attend school 90% of the time. Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein noted that “Ever since the pandemic, our whole culture thinks school is optional because obviously, and controversially, we sent the kids home.”

Of course, Bernstein ally Gov. Lujan Grisham made the decision to send our kids home for over a year. Bernstein and her union didn’t exactly push back on MLG’s lock out at the time. How do policymakers restore the cultural norm of kids attending school and at the same time improve student outcomes? When will the media call out MLG for this massive mistake and its harms? Will MLG EVER admit she made a mistake keeping kids out of school for so long? And, if you have a product that is a key to long terms success, it is free to the user, and barely 50% of those eligible take advantage of the product, what does that mean?

We believe that both the Mississippi model for teaching and improving reading and/or school choice would help a lot. But, the Legislature and Gov. are unwilling to make needed changes and unless or until New Mexico’s voters are willing to hold them accountable for our failing education system AND restore limits to future governors’ emergency powers, there is little reason to be optimistic about improving our education systems.