Why are some of New Mexico’s best schools losing their funding?

28 September – New Mexico deputies in the past legislative session unanimously passed the formula changes in public school financing formula, and the financing of the state re -allocated it to the most needed schools. However, some of the best -performance Charter schools in the state say that policy is harming them.

“Every year we heard from the statutes that require their own risks every year. We heard them over and over again.” He said.

In the Assembly and the Senate, Bill 63, which passed without the “No” vote, was introduced to increase the financing of students at more risks and schools by re -allocating the financing flows. The Public Education Department defines “risks at risk” as domestic, special needs, low -income households or English language learners.

“We’ve changed it to get everyone’s own -risk index. And now, of course some of them don’t like it.” He said.

Right, many Charter school schools do not like changes.

The magazine spoke to leaders from a few Charter schools, which serves about 3,500 students and lost over $ 1.5 million due to the passage of the bill. Many of them face challenging personnel decisions, uncertainty around future budgets, and a shortened school week.

In most cases, these schools have the enviable “spotlight” assignments, that is, the highest performance of the state. Most grow up, but interruptions can force them to limit their program offers.

“Bill 63 House’s aim is to provide more support and need more support in places where it is very positive and needed,” Cottonwood Classical General Manager, “Bill 63 House. He said. “But to do it for damage – it was not necessary to get money from other students on a basis.

According to the New Mexico Vistas report produced by Cottonwood Classical in the Northeast Albuquerque, 20 percent points higher than the average of the state on these issues has published competence rates in reading and science.

“New Mexico is not really low and deliberate or deliberate in education. He said. He continued: “This situation can not protect the staff after this situation can not protect the idea that we are in this situation. This does not make sense.”

In addition, despite the state’s increasing the guarantee of student equalization, the financing – legislature per student said it was not enough to keep up with the 4% increase for teachers in the previous session.

Binnert, “I did not afford to hire more teachers and in fact, I may have to leave people in the middle of the year.” He said.

Trey Smith, the director and chief manager of East Mountain High School, about 30 miles east, chose not to change three positions of this school year to get financing deductions through the 63th House invoice.

“We normally tried to design a balanced budget.” He said.

He decided not to fill two full -time work and one part -time job. These positions include a full -time position in donation collection and communication, a job in the athletics department of the school, and a part -time custody.

“I’m doing my best to keep the class, but so.” He said. He continued: “And this is not as if it has made meaningless expenditures against salaries, we need positions that serve critical roles and always makes everyone’s work even more difficult after decreasing.”

According to the documents shared with the magazine, East Mountain received approximately $ 486,000 in risk allocation for financial allocation for the previous financial year. This fell to $ 135,809 for the current financial year.

East Mountain’s competence rates in reading and science are 30 points higher than the state, although they are identical in science.

Explore Academy, a charter school that serves more than 1,000 students in Albuquerque, who was subjected to the largest dollar loss as a result of the passing of the bill. He lost about $ 1 million.

“This year, there was an important blow to our budget,” Discover the Chief School Director of the Discover. He said. “In general, our school has found more than we had before the HB 63 passed, with an explanation of approximately $ 1.2 million this year.”

The school informs about the competence rates of almost or over 20 percent on issues measured in the New Mexico Vistas report.

The school moved to a four -day school week to soften the financial coup due to PED’s financing formula for schools operating in a four -day week. Under this formula, the unit value of a student is calculated equally, independent of family income, special needs, English language or other factors. The school was able to return about $ 800,000 to lose due to financing changes of House Bill 63.

Discover the parents who overwhelm the change in a four -day school week. Nevertheless, Kolalander thinks that the bill affects families negatively.

“I think it brought families into a bad position because it did not clearly distribute the funds as it should. It seemed disproportionately on Spotlight Schools.” He said. He said: “It is not far to see that school leaders think it is a direct, almost targeted directive against Charter schools in the state.”

As a result of the Bill 63 household, Chris Parrino, Chris Parrino of Rio Grande Charter School, who lost 6.5% of his financing, is less willing to criticize Chris Parrino.

However, a document shared with the magazine shows that the school decreased $ 100,000 to $ 150,000 in the fund balance throughout the financial year. Despite the increasing financing per student, the student lost $ 97,211.46 for equalization financing.

According to the documents shared with Journal, another high -performance Charter school in the Northeast Albuquerque of the New Mexico International School lost $ 360,000 after the bill’s passage.

Using the saved money, the school was able to save its budget for this financial year, but according to Todd Knouse, the head of the school. Authorized, interventionists and librarians such as positions can be in the chopping block, he said.

“This is a kind of Robin Hood type idea … We are the big lost. There are really big winners in this design. What is expectation? Are they just getting more money?” Knouse said. “One thing I noticed, this place (New Mexico) only throws money to perceived problems, no accountability.”

Therefore, the school always tries to keep money in savings.

“Our remaining cash money is our remaining cash, because there is always a kind of threat in every legislative session,” Corinne wires, “the remaining cash money.” He said. “But this year we dive to hundreds of thousands of people to run our program.”

Mathematics, reading and science competence ratings of schools are 30 to 40 points higher than the state average.

One of the least affected schools of Bill 63 House was Amy Biehl Charter High School, which served less than 200 students in a historical Downtown Albuerque building.

“We didn’t even measure,” said school treasurer Cliff Wintrode.

According to the financial impact analysis of the bill, Amy Biehl lost about $ 1,000 labeled as 0% change in the analysis.

Nevertheless, Stephanie Becker, General Manager and Director of the School, adds problems to how the state’s financing formula was built even with increasing financing per student.

Becker, “I think something bigger … We are constantly surprised, the legislature faculty and staff necessitates certain increases for our staff.” He said. “Then when they do the equation – student equalization guarantee – it does not fit at all.”

The magazine reached more than one Charter school, which has gained financing due to the passing of House Bill 63. The most important percentage increase, La Academia Dolores Huerta and the biggest dollar increase, task success and success of none of the schools responded to requests for comments.

“Critics of the bill are carefully traveling to this story of equality,” New Mexico University, Professor of Education, Professor of Education. He said. “We know that everyone wants to demand self -equipment, but then when we need to say that, it means that some people get more than other people, then it’s hard.”

He added that he saw the bill as “one of the first few concrete actions”, and that the New Mexico Legislative Assembly responded to the turning point 2018 Summer-Martinez decision, which found that the quality of education of the state is so bad.

However, he accepted the emergency effect for schools.

“One year, a year, a really short time for a school to change its priorities to the public.” He said. “I think low -income students and marginal students have to make a very solid decision about whether to get.”

Throughout the previous financial year, New Mexico earned $ 390 million more than expected, some said Stewart could be used to further finance New Mexico schools.

“This is a positive movement for us, for everyone. For a few years, but the students at risk will find a way to continue.” He said. “We will continue to increase the financing every year we can.”