Charter schools in New Mexico

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Charter schools in New Mexico are public schools operated independently of public school systems, either by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 99 total charter schools in New Mexico in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 25,700 students.
  • Overall, charter school students accounted for 7.53 percent of total public school enrollment in New Mexico in 2015.
  • The New Mexico State Legislature approved the state's charter school law in 1993.

    • Background

    History

    The New Mexico State Legislature approved New Mexico's charter school law in 1993.

    The concept of creating public charter schools as alternatives to traditional public schools was first brought to public attention in the late 1980s by a small group of policymakers and educators. The notion gained traction in the early 1990s, and in 1991 Minnesota became the first state to pass a charter school law.[1]

    The National Conference of State Legislatures defines charter schools as follows:[2]

    “

    Charter schools are publicly funded, privately managed and semi-autonomous schools of choice. They do not charge tuition. They must hold to the same academic accountability measures as traditional schools. They receive public funding similarly to traditional schools. However, they have more freedom over their budgets, staffing, curricula and other operations. In exchange for this freedom, they must deliver academic results and there must be enough community demand for them to remain open.[3]

    		”
    —National Conference of State Legislatures

    Across the nation, charter schools have grown in number since the passage of the first public charter school law. As of March 2017, 44 states plus the District of Columbia had enacted charter school laws, and in 2013 it was estimated that 4.6 percent of all public school students attended charter schools. Performance results of charter schools nationally have been mixed, with some performing demonstrably better and others closing because they could not meet required standards.[2][4][5]

    New Mexico enacted its first charter school law in 1993, originally allowing conversion schools only. The state’s Charter School Act was passed in 1999 to allow start-up charter schools.[6]

    Participation

    According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 99 total charter schools in New Mexico in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 25,700 students. Overall, charter school students accounted for 7.53 percent of total public school enrollment in New Mexico in 2015.[7]

    Charter schools, 2015-2016
    State Total number of charter schools Estimated enrollment Percentage of total public school enrollment
    New Mexico 99 25,700 7.53%
    Arizona 535 177,600 15.90%
    Colorado 226 108,800 12.26%
    Utah 111 64,800 10.03%
    United States total 6,824 2,930,600 5.85%
    Note: The percentages in the column labeled "Percentage of total public school enrollment" were calculated by taking the estimated number of charter school students in a given state and dividing by the total estimated number of public school students in that state in 2015. Total public school enrollment estimates came from the National Center for Education Statistics.
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016

    Demographics

    See also: Charter school demographics and Demographic information for all students in the United States

    The table below presents information about the race/ethnicity of charter school students in New Mexico in the 2013-2014 school year, as reported by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. To facilitate comparison, the same figures are also provided for all public school students.[8][9]

    Enrollments by ethnicity, 2013-2014 (as percentages)
    Data sample White Black Hispanic Asian Other
    Charter schools in New Mexico 33.0% 3.0% 56.0% 1.0% 7.0%
    Public schools in New Mexico 24.6% 1.9% 60.7% 1.2% 11.6%
    Charter schools in the U.S. 34.9% 27.1% 30.0% 4.1% 3.8%
    Public schools in the U.S. 50.3% 15.6% 24.8% 4.8% 4.4%
    Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 203.70. Percentage distribution of enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by race/ethnicity and state or jurisdiction: Fall 2003 and fall 2013," accessed June 7, 2016
    National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis," March 2016

    State law

    Authorizers

    Charter school authorizers are, according to the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA), the organizations "designated to approve, monitor, renew, and, if necessary, close charter schools." NASCA has identified six primary types of charter school authorizers:[10]

    1. Higher education institutions (HEI)
    2. Independent charter boards (ICB)
    3. Local education agencies (LEA)
    4. Non-education government entities (NEG)
    5. Not-for-profit organizations (NFP)
    6. State education agencies

    The table below lists charter school authorizers in New Mexico as of June 2016. Click [show] to expand the table's contents.

    Enrollment regulations

    Charter schools in New Mexico are open to any student in the state. Charter schools may initially enroll students on a first-come, first-served basis. If demand exceeds available space, a lottery is used to determine enrollment. Students not initially enrolled through the lottery are placed on a waiting list, which is not subject to a lottery.[11]

    Enrollment preference must be given to prior-year students and siblings of current students. The law prohibits preference to be given to children of founders, board members and employees.[11]

    Funding

    In New Mexico, some charter schools receive funding directly from the state.

    The way charter schools are financed differs from state to state, and even between districts within states. In New Mexico, the law provides that charter schools receive 98 percent of the school-generated program cost, allowing authorizers to retain 2 percent for administration purposes. Charter schools authorized by local school boards receive their funds through the board, while state-authorized schools receive their funding directly from the state.[12]

    State-authorized schools are allowed to apply for federal loans and grants, while schools authorized by local school boards must be included in the board’s application for federal funding.[12]

    The state provides some funds for both start-up costs and facilities. School districts are required to allow charter schools space in unused portions of school buildings.[12]

    Accountability

    See also: Accountability measures for charter schools

    New Mexico law requires charter contracts to be performance-based, outlining the authorizer’s responsibilities and its evaluation process for the school. The contract must also detail performance standards the school must strive for. Charter schools must undergo an annual financial audit and compile quarterly financial reports, as do traditional public schools.[12]

    The law states that authorizers may undertake any activity necessary to carry out its oversight duties as long as it does not interfere with the autonomy of the schools it oversees. Authorizers are required to visit each school at least once per year. If it finds the academic or financial performance of a school unsatisfactory, it must notify the school and allow time for corrections to be made. The authorizer may also require the school to develop a corrective plan. If the performance of the school does not improve, its charter may be revoked.[12]

    Additionally, authorizers are required to submit annual reports to the New Mexico Public Education Department that cover the performance of schools they oversee. The New Mexico Public Education Commission is subject to review as an authorizer by the governor and the legislature at any time, and they may strip the commission of its authorizing authority.[12]

    The Public of Education Department must submit its own compilation of data in an annual report to the governor and the legislature that contains a comparison of charter school performance to that of traditional public schools and recommendations for policy changes.[12]

    Charter school law rankings

    In January 2016, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a report ranking all of the nation's charter school laws. New Mexico's law ranked 16 out of 43. The organization ranked each state's law by considering what it called "20 essential components of a strong charter school law." The table below compares New Mexico's score with that of neighboring states. To access the full report, including methodology, click here.[13]

    Charter school law rankings, January 2016
    State 2016 ranking 2015 ranking Ranking difference 2016 score 2015 score Score difference
    New Mexico 16 13 -3 150 150 0
    Arizona 10 12 2 154 151 3
    Colorado 5 6 1 165 159 6
    Utah 20 18 -2 145 145 0
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Measuring Up To The Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws," January 2016

    Issues

    Debate

    Proponents of charter schools such as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools argue that, due to their freedom from some state oversight and regulation, they can adopt more innovative educational approaches. This allows them to cater to their particular higher-risk school age populations, which are generally composed of more minority and poor students. In addition, advocates argue that charter schools empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition.

    Meanwhile, critics such as Diane Ravitch argue that charter schools have not been proven to produce significantly higher levels of academic achievement as promised. It is difficult to find data comparable to traditional public schools. Critics also contend that charter schools divert funds from traditional public schools, which continue to enroll significant majorities of public school students, thereby compounding problems at failing schools and generating unequal outcomes for students.[14]

    Funding inequity

    In 2014, the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform released a report identifying disparities between charter school funding and traditional public school funding. Examining 31 states, the researchers considered all sources of charter school funding, including public funds, grants, and philanthropic donations. Researchers found that charter schools received on average 28.4 percent less than traditional public schools. New Mexico's funding disparity was lowest at 0.1 percent, while Louisiana's was highest at 58.4 percent. The disparity in New Mexico was -3.4 percent, earning the state a B grade. Charter schools in the state received on average $365 less per pupil than traditional public schools.[15]

    Below is a chart that compares New Mexico's grade and funding disparity with those of surrounding states. To access the full report, click here.

    Charter school funding disparity by state
    State Grade District per-pupil revenue Charter per-pupil revenue Disparity in dollars Disparity in percents
    New Mexico B $10,701 $10,336 -$365 -3.4%
    Arizona D $9,532 $7,783 -$1,749 -18.4%
    Colorado D $11,102 $8,786 -$2,316 -20.9%
    Utah D $8,039 $6,352 -$1,687 -21.0%
    Source: University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, "Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands," accessed October 22, 2014

    Charter school management organizations and other groups

    See also: Charter school management organization

    The vast majority of charter schools in New Mexico are freestanding, meaning they do not contract with a charter school management organization for education services. In the 2010-2011 school year, 80 schools in New Mexico were freestanding, one operated under charter management organizations, and none operated under education management organizations.[16]

    New Mexico has one charter school advocacy organization, the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools, and one statewide authorizer.

    Innovation

    See also: Charter school innovation indicators and High-performing charter schools

    Charter school proponents argue that charter schools have the freedom to adopt more innovative practices, which in turn lead to improved academic performance. To get a sense of the level of innovation occurring in charter schools, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools surveyed charter schools across the country on the various innovative education practices they employed. In New Mexico, an average of 35 percent of charter schools reported using innovative practices in the 2011-2012 school year. The table below displays the prevalence of a variety of innovative practices in New Mexico as a percentage of all charter schools in the state. The figures are compared with those in surrounding states.[17]

    Charter schools with innovative practices, in percents (2011-2012)
    State Extended day Extended year Year-round calendar Independent study School-to-work Higher education courses Average
    New Mexico 50% 32% 12% 32% 27% 59% 35%
    Arizona 40% 15% 10% 31% 13% 25% 22%
    Colorado 45% 36% 5% 29% 5% 21% 24%
    Utah 27% 19% 4% 27% 15% 31% 21%
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014

    Ballot measures and legislation

    Ballot measures

    See also: School choice on the ballot and List of New Mexico ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked no statewide ballot measures relating to school choice in New Mexico.

    Legislation

    The following is a list of recent charter school bills that have been introduced in or passed by the New Mexico state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New Mexico charter school. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Charter schools in New Mexico - Google News

    See also

    School Board badge.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Public School Review, "What is a Charter School?" accessed October 2, 2014
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Charter School Finance," accessed October 9, 2014
    3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    4. ↑ Center for Research on Education Outcomes, "National Charter School Study," accessed October 9, 2014
    5. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Total Number of Students," accessed October 9, 2014
    6. ↑ New Mexico Public Education Department, "Report to the Legislative Finance Committee," accessed December 3, 2014
    7. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016
    8. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 203.70. Percentage distribution of enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by race/ethnicity and state or jurisdiction: Fall 2003 and fall 2013," accessed June 7, 2016
    9. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis," March 2016
    10. ↑ National Association of Charter School Authorizers, "Types of Authorizers," accessed June 6, 2016
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools, "Charter School F.A.Q.," accessed December 3, 2014
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Measuring Up: New Mexico," accessed December 3, 2014
    13. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "Measuring Up To The Model: A Ranking of State Charter School Laws," January 2016
    14. ↑ The New York Review of Books, "The Myth of Charter Schools," November 11, 2010
    15. ↑ University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, "Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands," accessed October 22, 2014
    16. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014
    17. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "The Health of the Public Charter School Movement: A State-By-State Analysis," accessed October 3, 2014
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