A State At Risk: A Policy Analysis of Potential New Mexico School Choice Programs

Primary and secondary education in the United States has seen little improvement since A Nation At Risk was published in 1983, detailing proficiency rates lagging far behind those of other developed countries despite higher spending per student. New Mexico, the nation’s worst state in terms of primary and secondary education scores, spends more than several states, yet sees abysmal proficiency rates. Despite this, the state offers no publicly funded alternatives to the public school option, trapping many families in an underperforming monopoly of the education system. By providing no financial support for families attempting to seek alternative education sources, only those wealthy enough to afford such alternatives can do so. To address the market failure of primary and secondary education in New Mexico, the state legislature should consider implementing an income-driven universal school voucher program at a statewide level, while attempting to appease teachers’ unions and other special interest groups that may be concerned with the potential of funding being pulled from the public education system. This policy analysis recommends protections for disabled students and the consideration of minimum salary guarantees equating to that provided by teachers’ unions, to disincentivize hostility to the voucher program.