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| Wilson Works to Improve New Mexico`s Schools and Provide Assistance to Teachers |
January 13, 2003 |
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Lawmaker Focuses on Teachers and Arts Education
Albuquerque, NM - Congresswoman Heather Wilson unveiled initial pieces of her education agenda for the 108th Congress today while visiting Carlos Rey Elementary School. Throughout the next few weeks she will introduce several pieces of legislation that will focus on areas where Wilson believes the public education system can be strengthened or improved.
Specifically, the bills will:
provide enhanced math and science instruction for teachers;
give a tax credit to teachers who work in low-income schools; and
increase resources for arts education in New Mexico.
“There is no magic wand that will give us great schools,” says Wilson. “But we can improve public education step-by-step. We`ve made tremendous progress with the No Child Left Behind Act that took effect one year ago, funneling an additional $57 million into New Mexico and changing the tools available to teachers and parents. But I think we can do even more.
“We can support our teachers and give them the professional development they need to do their jobs.
“We can improve early childhood education so we can give our kids a solid foundation to build from.
“We can improve teaching in math, science, reading.
“And we need to get art and music back into our public schools.”
Math and Science Teaching
Wilson introduced a bill last week to improve math and science instruction in New Mexico schools by creating regional working groups for educators. The bill builds on the No Child Left Behind Act which seeks to improve the performance of students in math and science by encouraging states and local schools to work together with institutions of higher education to improve math and science teacher education. The working groups prescribed in Wilson`s bill will give educators opportunities for training, professional and curriculum development, and the ability to share successful ideas across school districts and states in math and science.
“Teachers don`t often have the opportunity to work with educators from other school districts or other states to learn what others are doing and how they are doing it," said Wilson. "By creating regional working groups on math and science education, we help teachers learn from each other and take the best ideas back to their own schools.”
Wilson has also secured funds for the UNM Math and Science Teaching Academy and hopes to further strengthen UNM`s program in the coming years.
$2000 Title I Teacher Tax Credit
In the coming weeks, Wilson will introduce legislation to provide a $2,000 tax credit to teachers in Title I, Part A eligible schools. Title I is a federal program that provides additional funds to schools that have a large number of low-income students. Those schools sometimes have a harder time recruiting and retaining teachers. The United States will need to hire 2 million teachers in the coming decade. A surge in teacher retirement and growth in enrollment of students are major contributing factors to the need for more teachers.
“In reality, the problem is not an overall teaching shortage in the country, but rather a problem with the distribution of teachers between affluent and disadvantaged schools,” said Wilson. “We need to encourage qualified, competent teachers to stay in the neighborhoods that need them most. This bill gives them a $2000 raise. With so many schools in New Mexico qualifying for Title I, this will go a long way to narrow the gap in teacher pay between New Mexico`s Schools and Schools in neighboring states.”
Art and Music
Wilson also believes it is important to get art and music back into the classroom. She will introduce a bill to amend the current "Access to the Arts" program under the National Endowment for the Arts so that a higher percentage of funding is used to create arts education programs in elementary and secondary schools. Currently, 50% of any amount over $175 million appropriated to the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) is allocated to schools for arts programs. Wilson`s bill will lower that amount to $98 million over which 100% would go to schools.
“I believe that getting the arts back into our schools should be the priority," Wilson said. "New Mexico culture is inseparable from the arts. Yet many of our children do not have art and music every week in our public schools.”
“Recent studies show that students who are involved in arts programs tend to have greater self-confidence and perform better academically. It is my goal to provide the means for more children to enjoy this benefit and to appreciate the arts.”
Throughout her time in Congress, Wilson has focused much of her efforts and attention on public education. She has visited hundreds of classrooms throughout her district to visit with students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Wilson also runs a high school internship program in her Albuquerque office where close to 100 students have learned basic job skills in an office setting.
“Education continues to be my personal passion. It`s the reason I got into public life,” said Wilson. “We know that a good education can truly make a difference in the lives of our children. We know that math and science are important for the jobs of the 21st century. We know that art impacts our lives. We know that good teachers make a difference. I look forward to building on the progress we`ve already made.”
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