The Richardson Solution

Longer school day for struggling schools?

Richardson proposes:

"States and school districts around the country are considering dozens of proposals for extending the school day by several hours to extending the school year by days, weeks or months...

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson recently proposed a longer school day and year for low-performing schools. . . .

"Research reveals a complicated relationship between time and learning and suggests that improving the quality of instructional time is at least as important as increasing the quantity of time in school. It also suggests that the addition of high-quality teaching time is of particular benefit to certain groups of students, such as low-income students and others who have little opportunity for learning outside of school?"

BRS Focus:

I love my summer breaks, but the straight truth of it is that students languish during those summer months, especially in dual-language or mono-language homes (that differ from our main instructional content). The third paragraph is especially key to understanding the relationship with any sort of logistical adjustment to schools.  Adding money, time or more computers doesn't solve the problem - but a combination of different factors with higher pay for quality teachers would make a huge difference for low perfoming schools.  With all the other reforms the governor has instituted, it would be a good combination to provide an addtional boost to schools in need.

Spaceport Campaign

I wonder how many presidential candidates are going around trying to better the economic development of their state by promoting a spaceport?  As with most question involving the other candidates compared to Richardson, the answer is zilch.

"The spaceport is 5,000 jobs for Southern New Mexico, the spaceport is discovery, space -- it's America's future and it's going to be here in Southern New Mexico," said Richardson.

The spaceport is a proposed $225 million facility to launch tourists into space.

"I definitely want to go to space and see how it looks down on earth," said Ryan Maki, a sixth-grader at Vista Middle.

With the possibility of a spaceport in the near future, kids in Vista Middle not only have their eyes set on a diploma, they have their eyes in the sky.

"I'm excited because this gives us new opportunities to reach our goals and it will help with our careers," said sixth-grader, Alexandra Anzalgua.

The spaceport is expected to make up to $1 billion in revenue. But some southern New Mexico counties would have to pay a 1/4-cent sales tax.

The best part about this plan is that it actually will bring regional development to the southern counties that benefit from it the most:

Seventy-five percent of the proposed sales tax would fund the spaceport, while the remaining 25% would go to science education programs at selected schools. The proposal will go to voters on April 3rd if the commissioners approve it.

This is just another example of how Bill Richardson, while also campaigning for president, is still working on his home state - not leaving it behind.  My rough calculations indicate that is something like $ 8 million dollars for the math and science programs at those schools.  Just another fringe benefit from having a multi-tasking governor.

Teacher incentives and education reform

We've heard a little about the Governor's plan to build new schools and fund pre-k, but this tidbit slipped under the radar and was picked up by Education Week (free subscription required):

In last week’s address to the legislature, Gov. Richardson proposed a tax credit for highly qualified teachers who work in what he referred to a schools with “the greatest needs,” and he proposed forgiving educational loans for teachers who work in schools with large numbers of students from low-income families.

If the legislature approves the governor’s idea for a tax credit for teachers in high-need areas, it likely would cost the state $3.5 million in its first year, Mr. Gallegos said. He said the governor also is seeking to expand after-school programs.

While the idea for a tax credit is new, according to Mr. Gallegos, the other initiatives already are in place, and the governor is trying to obtain incremental increases in funding for them.

Lastly, Mr. Richardson proposed increasing the age at which a student can drop out of school to 18 from 17. That proposal, Mr. Gallegos said, is part of the governor’s plans to redesign high schools, an initiative that he only touched on in his State of the State address.

I hate to claim objectivity on this issue (since it pretty much describes where I teach) but for a state like New Mexico that needs to attract good teachers, these types of programs will be a boon to their future prospects.

Increasing funding for after-school program is totally needed and a neccessary part of a functioning school system.

I feel that the last proposal is what caught my eye the most.  I'd like to see more of this start coming out.  It might not make it in this legislative session, but I'm sure it will come out at the right time.  Redesigning our high schools is a must in this state (and nation really).  I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Inaugural Themes Part 3: Education

Bill Richardson has done a lot to move New Mexico forward in education:

It starts with education - the cornerstone of opportunity.

We made a lot of progress in our schools -

* expanding learning to thousands of 4 year olds,

* dramatically improving our ranking in teacher quality,

* and earning a top ten spot for high educational standards.

Even with all that progress, New Mexico still must move forward. According to Education Week, New Mexico still has much room to grow:

Many New Mexico students start out life behind, enter schools that aren't well-prepared to help them and receive little support in moving from education to a career, a report said Wednesday.

Education Week, in its Quality Counts 2007 report, ranked New Mexico last in the nation on a new Chance for Success index, which rated all 50 states on how well they give their young people an opportunity to succeed later in life.

Quality Counts ranked New Mexico 47th in academic performance of elementary and secondary students and 39th in aligning education from early childhood programs to a career.

New Mexico falls below the national average in preschool enrollment; high school graduation rates; reading and math proficiency; enrollment in post-secondary education; family income; and the percentage of parents who work full time, have a degree and speak English fluently...

However, New Mexico also ranks fourth in the nation for setting standards and accountability in its education system, so people should stay tuned ..

That's why Richardson has a plan:

We must demonstrate that it doesn't matter where you come from, every single child can learn.

We must raise our expectations of them, and their expectations of themselves.

And we must keep building an educational system based on this belief.

That from Pre-Kindergarten to post-college every child is expected to learn-

* to be encouraged by caring parents,

* to be stimulated by great books,

* to be inspired by new technology,

* and to be challenged by high quality teachers.

And that every one is expected to achieve, to graduate and to succeed in the world of work.

Children must know that their teachers, their parents, their principals, their legislators, and their governor care deeply about their learning.

That we expect them to achieve, and we hold ourselves accountable for their success.

Four years ago today, we demonstrated our commitment to education with a 6% increase in teacher salaries - tied to accountability measures.

And we've consistently raised that salary each year.

Those increases took us from 48th to 39th in the nation in teacher pay, dramatically boosted teacher quality, and improved education in the classroom.

Today, I propose that we renew our commitment to education in an unprecedented way-let's raise teacher's salaries by 7.4 percent, tie them to accountability, and move to 27th in the nation.

We need to keep expanding opportunity beyond our schools.

TRS Focus:

As a teacher, I'm not going to argue that raising teacher's salaries would be a positive thing. But it goes beyond that. It matters how teacher's get pay raises (quality, not longevity) and how they are assisted in the classroom. If we had a capable assistant in K-3 in all schools in New Mexico, you would see test scores exploding. Having one person account for 15-25 children that are struggling with the english language is not a recipe for success. Richardson should start thinking even farther outside of the box and institute structural reforms to make our education system that much more productive.

Obama is pushing "innovation districts" at the national level - that is a program that should be implemented and moved forward here in New Mexico. It would add "creativity" leverage over the rest of the 2008 crowd and most likely help out education in our state.

Doing something about college cost is also a must-do.

I believe that Richardson has done quite a bit to help education in our state. But it needs much, much more. I also am excited someone like him is at the helm and I clearly know he can do quite a bit to push us forward. Let's keep it up.

NM finds massive budget surplus

What do you know? Being fiscally responsible (and enjoying some great revenue streams) pays off:

Study the state's economic outlook, its revenue forecast, its gross receipts tax trends and one thing will be clear: Gov. Bill Richardson has some serious cash in the bank.

The money - a just-announced boost for the next fiscal year of $723 million more than this year - no doubt will help Richardson appease the wants of 112 lawmakers in the upcoming 60-day session...

Richardson already has outlined parts of his wish list for the 2007 session. He got some input on his health care, homeland security, education and energy ideas at a closed-door retreat with a group of policy advisers, consultants and former governors from New Mexico and across the country on Monday...

On the list from Republicans and Democrats: More police officers to enforce DWI laws. Additional cash in the trust fund for water projects. Millions more for Medicare, health care, teachers. Expedited income tax cuts. And overall, avoid creating new programs that will take money each year...

Richardson said he wants $100 million in tax cuts. The relief among other things is aimed at helping New Mexicans make paying for college more affordable, helping clean energy companies and assisting working families.

"The consistent strength of our economy gives me confidence that we can cut taxes, invest in our schools and make health care available to more New Mexicans, while maintaining prudent cash reserves," he said in a statement.

TRS Focus:

1 - Tax cutting that helps out regular folks and clean companies just makes sense. This is such an excellent frame for the national debate - not a tax raiser, but a tax invester - that usually falls along such predictable lines.

2 - Richardson should take the Governor's scapel and cut some program costs right now when he has the chance. Being fiscally responsible means making tought choices and he's done it in the past. He might as well prove his mettle even more now while he has the money and resources.

3 - Be innovative. Experiment with some new ideas at the local level to increase resource (energy, water) conservation or development controls. Again, he's been doing this for awhile but more can't hurt.

Business Student Investment Program

Throughout the course of diaries here at The Richardson Solution, we will focus on policies that the Governor has produced over his tenure in New Mexico, as Energy Secretary, UN Ambassador and Congressman.

It is our contention that Bill Richardson's innovative and often dynamic approach to public policy has served the citizens of New Mexico well during his tenure. So, by exploring his accomplishments we will build the "information database" here at TRS, so any interested voter or activist can have access to relavent information.

Here is a very good example:

"The University Investment Partnership is an innovative hands-on program that will provide UNM and NMSU's top business students a training ground rarely offered outside the professional world," said Governor Richardson. "By providing this kind of educational opportunity, we will grow New Mexico's investment talent pool, and keep the next generation of financial leaders at home."

Top finance and business students at each school will manage a $5 million portfolio of publicly traded stocks and bonds under the careful guidance of college faculty and portfolio managers at the State Investment Council. State Investment Officer Gary Bland said the SIC will retain veto rights over all transactions to ensure overall protection of the funds.

"With the Governor committing to this kind of investment in human capital, we can build a deeper bench for the future," said Bland. "We believe that this kind of program will help give some of our best and brightest the tools they need for a financial career right here in New Mexico."

By giving state students resources like this, Bill Richardson has done a few things directly:

1 - Increased the experience level of top business students at New Mexico schools which a)increases the reputation of New Mexico business schools and b)increases the reputation of New Mexico business students

and

2 - Will actually create a living resource of New Mexico business students for generations. This one time investment will probably balloon in size with proper management and be around for students for years. The power of a one time investment in this sort of field is great.

Just another solution-oriented example of Bill Richardson.

Moving New Mexico Forward

Not resting on his laurels from his overwhelming victory, Bill Richardson has asked task forces to come together and discuss with the general community about how New Mexico can move forward.

Check out the main website at http://billrichardson2006.com/transition/

A quick snippet:

The objective of the Transition Team is to provide an evaluation of Governor   Richardson's key initiatives in five policy areas that will continue to Move New Mexico   Forward. The Transition Committee will be chaired by Ambassador Edward Romero   and Gayla Brumfield.

The Transition Committee will include five subcommittees that focus on the   following key areas:

• A Healthy New Mexico, chaired by Dr. Paul Roth, Executive     Vice President of UNM Health Science Center
• Making Schools Work, chaired by Governor Toney Anaya
• A Safer New Mexico, chaired by Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest
• Promoting and Growing New Mexico, chaired by Kim Sanchez-Rael,     general partner of Flywheel Ventures
• Protecting and Promoting New Mexico's Environment, chaired     by Jeff Sterba, CEO of PNM

This was followed with a series of community conversations around the state and Albuquerque designed to promote reciprocal civic dialogue regarding these issues.

While many potential 2008 candidates went straight into campaign mode (I know Bill was in NH last weekend, but that doesn't mean he lives there yet) Bill Richardson was starting to set the infrastructure in place to make his second term productive and meaningful.