Rebecca Dow, House Representative of New Mexico, said that school choice programs are improving education nationally while state leaders have not embraced the policy. The statement was made on X.
"School choice (which is choice for educators and students) is making gains across the U.S," said Rebecca L. Dow, New Mexico State Representative for 38th District (R). "Yet the people in control of education in NM refuse consider unleashing our state's educational outcomes potential. What is there to lose?"
School choice policies have rapidly expanded across the United States, with states like Arizona, Florida, and West Virginia recently adopting universal programs that allow public funds to follow students to private or charter schools. According to AP News, since 2021, over a dozen states have passed significant school choice legislation, reflecting a growing push by conservative lawmakers and parents for education alternatives amid debates over funding and accountability. The trend shows continued momentum with both supporters and critics closely watching outcomes.
According to World Population Review, Massachusetts currently ranks first in K–12 education outcomes in the U.S., with Connecticut and New Jersey following closely behind based on standardized test scores and graduation rates. New Mexico and Oklahoma are among the lowest-ranked states, showing significant disparities in reading and math proficiency, graduation rates, and college readiness compared to top performers. These rankings highlight persistent regional gaps in educational achievement.
A 2024 study from the Washington Policy Center found that states with universal school choice programs, such as Florida and Arizona, have generally seen modest improvements in graduation rates and student achievement. However, the same report notes that the academic gains are incremental and sometimes difficult to attribute solely to school choice due to differing funding and demographic factors.
Dow is a Republican lawmaker from New Mexico, serving in the House of Representatives for District 38. She is known for her strong advocacy of school choice and education reform, according to the Rio Grande Foundation. She has founded several educational nonprofits, including NM PreK, and previously chaired legislative committees on children and families. Dow’s legislative priorities focus on deregulation, parental choice, and expanding vocational education options statewide.
