Commentary: The Albuquerque Public School (APS) Board is set to consider a resolution this evening urging the Legislature to issue a moratorium on all new charter schools. In response to the proposed resolution, Senator Gregg Schmedes (District 19-Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Torrance) issued the following statement:
“The past 18 months have proven that New Mexico parents and children need more choice in education, not less. The charter schools in my district are some of the brightest spots in our troubled public education system, and year after year, they outpace our public schools in key metrics. No parent should be forced to place their child in a failing school simply because of where they live. And yet, the twisted priorities of APS continue to put the funding of entrenched bureaucrats and buildings over students’ well-being and success. In 2019, a bipartisan group of legislators soundly rejected efforts to sanction a charter school moratorium, and I urge the APS Board to do the same.”