Rebecca Dow, a representative for New Mexico's House District 38, has proposed the creation of an interim committee to examine educational strategies from states with successful outcomes. "Let’s have an interim committee to see what the states with the most gains/least loss are doing," she said on X on February 13.
"Simple idea- let's have an interim committee to see what the states with the most gains/least loss are doing," said Dow, State Representative. "Then, let's do that!"
The post referenced a graphic shared by Opportunity for All Kids New Mexico, which highlighted changes in math achievement across ten states that experienced minimal losses and ten states with significant declines. New Mexico was ranked ninth among those with the most loss, tied with Delaware, Oregon, and Virginia, each showing a 0.9 percent decline. The post also advocated for school choice, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in educational decisions amid declining education outcomes in New Mexico.
Screenshot of State Representative Rebecca Dow's Feb. 13 post on X
| X
In a subsequent post on February 22, Dow discussed potential improvements for New Mexico's educational system by looking at Louisiana and Mississippi as examples of successful reform. She noted Louisiana's progress from 49th to 32nd in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results for 2023-2024, highlighting it as the only state to return to pre-pandemic levels. According to an opinion piece linked in her post from the New York Post, Louisiana achieved this through initiatives such as requiring K-3 teachers to complete a course on reading science, introducing math flashcards in elementary schools, and mandating high-dosage tutoring for K-5 students.
Opportunity for All Kids New Mexico identified Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Hawaii, Utah, South Carolina, Mississippi, South Dakota, Illinois, and Ohio as states with significant improvements in math scores. Conversely, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, Alaska, Maine, Delaware, Oregon, New Mexico, and Virginia experienced notable declines.
Dow is a Republican politician representing Grant County along with Hidalgo and Sierra counties. She previously served as a state representative before reclaiming her seat in House District 38 in 2024 by defeating Democratic incumbent Tara Jaramillo. Her campaign emphasized pro-business initiatives and education reform. Dow has been recognized for her contributions to early childhood education and community service.
