By VALERIE FOX
Los Alamos

I am a parent of an elementary-age student. I am objecting to the proposed amendments to 6.10.5 NMAC. As I understand it, our district is opposed to it as well. Our students, teachers and school board members are already reeling from a swath of changes last year that included extended calendars and have made no difference in testing in the state of New Mexico. In fact, there has been a decline in math test scores and barely any movement in reading. Math proficiency scores in this state dropped to 24% and we are last in the nation in education.

Our PED needs to be honest with citizens and the legislature. More hours in class will not move the needle, as there are physical/emotional/intellectual limits to the amount of “catch-up” kids can do. Some kids will need to graduate late and need individualized remedial learning. We need to address the real problem as to why testing is so bad.

I don’t believe teachers are to blame for the abysmal test results. We have excellent teachers here in our district in Los Alamos. Kudos to our amazing teachers and staff. The Common Core curriculum in this state and across the nation is a proven failure. Numbers don’t lie. Traditional learning with reading and math needs to come back. I take my child out of math class in the public school to homeschool using traditional instruction. My child is a full grade ahead and tested in the 99th percentile last year in reading and math, both of which I am responsible for having taught.

I would love to see our public school children benefit from traditional learning like so many of us succeeded with. They deserve to be successful. Give our teachers and students what is needed, a better curriculum, not more exhausting hours and disruptions to their schedules.

Thank you for your consideration.