Rebecca Dow, a state representative for New Mexico’s District 38, said that the state’s education department is wrong to attempt to block a curriculum supported by both parents and teachers. She made this statement in a post on X.
"What an honor to have RFK visit an NM charter," said Rebecca L. Dow, New Mexico State Representative for 38th District (R). "PED tried to stop implementation of this curricula because THEY don't like it. Let parents parent. Let teachers teach."
In New Mexico, the proposed First Things Classical Charter School (FTCCS) has become a focal point of legal and public debate due to its planned partnership with Hillsdale College. The school aims to implement a classical curriculum emphasizing core academics and civic virtue. While supporters argue it will provide a strong educational foundation, critics have raised concerns about potential politicization and religious influence, questioning church-state separation and the use of public funds. According to public comments received by the New Mexico Public Education Department, there is both support and opposition for FTCCS, reflecting a broader national conversation about charter schools' role and classical education in the public system.
Between the 2019–2020 and 2023–2024 school years, charter school enrollment in New Mexico increased by approximately 400,000 students. In contrast, traditional public school enrollment nationwide declined by about 1.75 million students. This shift underscores the growing popularity of charter schools, which now serve a larger share of the student population. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools attributes this growth to charter schools' flexibility and innovative educational approaches that attract families seeking alternatives to traditional public education.
A study conducted in 2023 by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University found that charter school students gained an additional six days of learning in reading compared to their peers in traditional public schools. However, it also revealed that charter school students experienced a loss of three days of learning in math relative to their counterparts in traditional public schools. These findings suggest that while charter schools may offer advantages in specific academic areas, performance can vary across subjects, highlighting the need for ongoing evaluation to maintain high educational standards.
Dow represents District 38 in the New Mexico House of Representatives, covering parts of Doña Ana, Sierra, and Socorro counties. She served from 2016 to 2022 and returned to office in 2025. Dow holds an associate degree from Tulsa Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Oral Roberts University. With experience as a business executive and educator, her legislative priorities focus on education reform. She advocates for school choice, transparency in school funding, and policies granting parents more control over educational decision-making.
