Let New Mexico’s education funds follow the child

As the superintendent of the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the recent closure of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Albuquerque was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Making the situation even more tragic is that Catholic schools are a potential solution for what ails New Mexico’s education system. We know New Mexico schools are ranked dead last in study after study, but “if Catholic schools were a state, they would be the highest performing state in the country” (January NAEP National Report Card).

Declining enrollment at Our Lady of Fatima ultimately caused the school’s closure. Sadly, birth rates have plummeted nationwide. Simultaneously, our state is seeing an exodus of young people and families to other states.

It is worth noting that the Albuquerque Public Schools district also has seen dramatic enrollment declines in recent years. The difference is APS has nearly unlimited financial backing from the state. In fact, after years of education spending increases in Santa Fe, the Public Education Department recently requested a 21% annual spending increase for the upcoming legislative session.

Yet, the Legislative Finance Committee recently reported that, “Spending in New Mexico schools is not leading to significant boost for students.” It’s clear from recent failures that lack of money is not causing the problem and is no panacea for improvement.

Catholic schools operate under real budgetary constraints. Our schools are financed through tuition, fundraising and donations. We educate children successfully for less than half of what the public schools are spending. And yet, our children are receiving and achieving academic excellence, morally sound teachings, respect for all people, and ethical responsibility to be purpose-driven citizens and to care for others.

Given the massive surpluses generated by oil and gas, estimated at $3.5 billion this year, the Legislature and governor could do what an increasing number of states are doing by providing tuition assistance for schools of choice, including, but certainly not limited to, Catholic schools.

Currently, in 11 states, including neighboring Arizona, education money “follows the child” to whatever education provider families prefer. Another 16 states have tax credit scholarship programs allowing individuals or businesses to take a credit against their state taxes in exchange for providing students scholarships to schools of choice.

It is time all children and families have a choice as to where their educational dollars go and how they are spent.

Our schools do not take children away from the public schools; rather, they offer a choice of secular teachings versus faith-based teachings. Our schools teach the national standards, our children score higher and our graduation rate is 99%.

As a parent and grandparent of children in New Mexico, I understand change is inevitable. Now is the time to show we all truly care about our children and want what is best for all children. Let the funding we pay as taxpayers follow our children to a school where children will grow and thrive. Do this through legislative action where the same per-pupil funding follows the student to a school of their choice.

Donna Illerbrun is superintendent for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.