New Mexico’s children are falling behind—and fast. The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show fewer than one in four fourth- and eighth-graders are proficient in reading and math. Even more alarming, nearly half of some grade levels score below the most basic standards. Year after year, our state ranks dead last in every category on the Nation’s Report Card. This is more than a statistic; it is a warning for the future of our state.
Other states have proven that improvement is possible. Louisiana, once near the bottom like New Mexico, climbed into the top 20 in reading and math by implementing evidence-based literacy programs, high-impact tutoring, and strict accountability. If Louisiana can turn around its schools in a few short years, New Mexico can too, but only if lawmakers act decisively.
President Trump is right, education belongs closer to parents and communities, not distant Washington bureaucrats. Returning control to the states is the right direction for America. Local leaders can respond more quickly, innovate boldly, and hold schools accountable in ways that the federal government cannot.
The problem is not just low scores; it is wasted resources. Spending has ballooned even as enrollment drops, yet results continue to decline. Too often, dollars are swallowed by bureaucracy, unspent funds, and programs that fail to improve learning. We do not lack resources; we lack smart, accountable use of the resources we already have.
The 2026 legislative session is make-or-break. Lawmakers must adopt an evidence-based literacy plan, scale high-impact tutoring, provide sustained funding for struggling schools, and enforce clear performance targets. Until we confront inefficiency and redirect resources to proven strategies, giving New Mexico more control over education will not fix the crisis—it will cement it.
I support President Trump’s vision of returning authority to the states. With that authority comes responsibility. New Mexico must adopt bold reforms for putting students, not politics, at the center, directing resources into classrooms, empowering parents, and holding schools accountable for results. If state leaders rise to this challenge, local control will become the tool that transforms our schools from last place into a model of success. Our children deserve nothing less.
Nickie McCarty is the State Director for Concerned Women for America of New Mexico. She is also a former educator and athletic director.
