Despite spending millions of dollars in education, from early childhood through high school, too many New Mexico students are being left behind. Reading and math scores remain among the lowest in the country, graduation rates are lagging, and families are frustrated. It is time to stop measuring success by how much we spend and start measuring whether students are actually learning.
Education should be about outcomes, not zip codes.
I support holding the education system accountable for results by tying a portion of funding to measurable improvements in literacy, math skills, and graduation rates. With the current formula for funding in place, this will be a challenge but working with legislators on all sides, we can make a change that benefits all New Mexico children. Schools that help students make real progress should be supported and rewarded. When outcomes do not improve, the system should change course. Accountability should focus on helping schools get better, not punishing students.
When schools fail, it is important to not accept such failures. In recent years, New Mexico’s legislature lowered math standards (2024 HB 171). Our state continues to lower the bar when it comes to our kids, denying them the appropriate education to be successful. Under a Hull administration, we will raise the educational bar and make sure our children have the tools necessary to thrive.
We have a chronic absenteeism problem in New Mexico schools. We must develop programs to tackle chronic absenteeism, working with school districts and parents to keep our kids in the classroom and off the streets.
Parents must be true partners in education. Families deserve clear, easy-to-use tools that allow them to see curriculum materials, track academic progress, communicate with teachers and staff, and stay informed. Schools should be transparent and responsive, with clear processes to address concerns related to health, classroom content, and student privacy.
Families also deserve options. When schools consistently fail to meet student needs, parents and students should not be trapped with no alternatives. Responsibly expanding school choice and high-quality charter schools creates opportunity for families while encouraging improvement across the system.
A growing economy also requires a workforce ready to step into real jobs. My plan focuses on clear, practical pathways from education into careers. That includes expanding high-quality career and technical education in high schools so students can graduate with industry-recognized certifications and move directly into the workforce, apprenticeships, or further training.
Trade school programs should prioritize hands-on, AI-resistant careers such as electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, mechanics, and other skilled trades that cannot be outsourced or replaced by artificial intelligence.
It also means aligning education and training with real employer needs through stronger coordination between high schools, community colleges, universities, employers, and workforce agencies. Students and working adults should be able to see a clear path into careers that offer good pay and long-term growth, whether that path runs through a classroom, a shop floor, or an apprenticeship.
Strong schools depend on strong teachers and leaders. I support “grow-your-own” programs that help local students become educators and return to serve their communities, along with efforts to strengthen school leadership and retain teachers.
My goal is an education system that empowers parents, supports teachers, holds the system accountable, and delivers real results for New Mexico students at every stage.
