
Governor Susana Martinez announced Tuesday that 3-point-5 million dollars has been set
aside for education improvements in the current budget to help schools with leadership training and professional development.
She says the program is aimed at the 319 schools in the state that received a “D” or “F” under her administration's new grading system.
Bell… Chaparral… Cesar Chavez Charter High School… Deming High School… and Deming Intermediate School all received “D”s… while Bataan… Columbus… and Torres elementaries received “F”s. Only Memorial and Red Mountain Middle School are excluded from the program because they received “C”s.
The governor also defended the grading system – which some have criticized as too complicated – and promised to work with teachers on reforms. The grading scale is a cornerstone of Martinez's agenda for improving education in the state, which consistently ranks near the bottom nationally.
The system lets the state consider more than annual student test scores when gauging whether schools are complying with the federal No Child Left Behind law.
Reportedly… the state’s grading system also considers academic growth… attendance… support of both the highest and lowest performing students… and college and career readiness.