Dancers promote school choice

Private and charter schools rally at Capitol

SANTA FE — Students from various private and charter schools in New Mexico danced in the state Capitol rotunda Monday in celebration of National School Choice Week.

Lt. Gov. John Sanchez and Education Secretary Hanna Skandera attended the event and spoke for a few minutes about the virtues of providing education options for students, but they left about a half-hour before a scheduled news conference was supposed to start.

Betsy DeVos, Trump’s choice for education secretary, is expected to make charter schools and school choice a part of the focus of the education policy under the new administration.

According to a news release, National School Choice Week is being celebrated at more than 21,000 events nationwide, and Gov. Susana Martinez issued a proclamation recognizing Jan. 22-28 as School Choice Week in New Mexico. Those choices include public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, homeschooling, online learning, and traditional charter schools, according to the release.

“By working together, parents, students, teachers, and community leaders will raise important awareness about educational opportunity in New Mexico during National School Choice Week,” Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week, a public awareness effort spotlighting education options, said in the news release. “The goal of this Week is to celebrate school choice where it exists, and provide a platform for people to demand even greater opportunities in education.”

While one bill introduced in the Legislature calls for a 2½-year moratorium on new charter schools in the state, Skandera expressed opposition to that idea. “We have strongly supported the quality options for New Mexico students and families that charter schools are providing each and every day, and these high-quality options and opportunities deserve to grow for New Mexico’s families,” she said, according to a PED spokesman.

Politico reported last month that Skandera was under consideration for a job as education deputy secretary or undersecretary of education in the Trump administration. PED spokesman Robert McEntyre on Monday called the report just rumors. “She’s here now and is planning to be here,” he said.

EDDIE MOORE/JOURNAL Dozens of home school, charter school and private school students rally outside the Roundhouse on Monday to mark National School Choice Week.

Arianna Balderas, 18, from Tierra Adentro charter school in Albuquerque, dances in the rotunda Monday during activities celebrating School Choice Week.