PED asks APS to sign off on failing schools

Signature will let the department finalize the next steps

The dialogue is over. The New Mexico Public Education Department sent a notice to Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Raquel Reedy with the next steps laid out for Los Padillas and Whittier elementaries — schools with a history of failing grades and labeled in need of “more rigorous interventions” — and a place for Reedy to sign in agreement.

The notice differs from the monthslong exchange between APS and PED, a tennis match of responses on improvement plans for the MRI schools, because PED is no longer requesting a reply from the district, just a formal signature to finalize the agreements.

The signature deadline is Friday, which PED Secretary-designate Christopher Ruszkowski said is standard response time.

“Anything other than a signature, and PED will move forward with choosing another option for these schools,” he said.

But APS spokeswoman Johanna King said it’s a good plan and she anticipates Reedy will sign it.

On Tuesday, Ruszkowski’s message mirrored what PED said to the district last week: APS must fully accept its next steps for the district’s worst-performing schools or it faces losing control over them.

And that is still on the table if Reedy does not sign PED’s most recent letter by Friday.

Ruszkowski said what happens in the coming days will set a precedent of what will happen to future MRI schools, which is part of the reason PED is sending another notice back to APS, seeking their commitment.

“First and foremost, the district should take control over its own schools. It’s their schools and it’s their jobs,” he said.

PED’s letter sent Tuesday is a recap of PED-mandated conditions and conditions requested from APS, but it narrows in on criteria for the school to exit MRI status, which wasn’t specifically addressed in APS’ response letters from May 18 other than Reedy saying APS remains optimistic the schools “will exit MRI status soon.”

According to PED, Los Padillas and Whittier must earn at least three C grades or better during the next four school grading periods. And if Los Padillas and Whittier earn two more consecutive F grades this school year and next, then the school will move toward closure, the letter restates.

“In the days ahead, NMPED anticipates providing a letter of state approval and beginning to disburse the $2 million in turnaround support, pending APS commitment without reservation, and APS commitment to forge ahead with this plan,” PED wrote in Tuesday’s letter.