New Mexico Won't Renew Largest Virtual School Charter

According to reporting by the Associated Press, New Mexico won't be renewing the charter for its largest online charter school due to "lagging academic performance," which could lead to its shuttering. State education representatives have voted down the renewal of the charter for New Mexico Connections Academy, which reported delivering online lessons to 1,538 students during the 2016-2017 school year from across the state and in grades 4-12.

The decision was made based on the school's performance report card, which reported high failure rates for student achievement in all grades for two years running. For example, in grade 4 the latest "not proficient" rate in reading was 88 percent; for math it was 90 percent. Every grade saw "not proficient" scores between 82 and 94 percent for math. In reading, the only grade that did better than that was grade 11, which had a "not proficient" score of 72 percent.

The graduation rate across the state of New Mexico was 71 percent for 2016; the graduation rate for that same period at the academy was 48 percent.

Education Commissioner Tim Crone told AP that "particular attention" was given to the school's inability to raise performance among students "who struggle the most academically." "We pay special attention to the lowest quartile," he said, "and Connections was not doing very well in that area." As one example, among English language learners, the state's "not proficient" rate overall was 80 percent; at the academy, it was greater than 95 percent.

The school's website refers to it as a "tight-knit school community, offering all the online services and resources needed to create a well-rounded student experience." It claimed "dozens" of clubs and activities, "dedicated and highly qualified teachers" and a STEM academy for delivering advanced coursework.

A survey conducted last January found agreement among parents regarding the "high quality" of the curriculum (96 percent agreed), teacher helpfulness (96 percent), and the ability of the school's technology tools to improve their child's learning experience (94 percent).

However, the website reported no information regarding academic outcomes for its students.

According to the AP reporting, the school has the right to appeal the Public Education Commission's decision. It could also reorganize under the oversight of a local school district. Otherwise, the virtual charter will 'be forced to close."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • Two hands shaking in the center with subtle technology icons, graphs, binary code, and a padlock in the dark blue background

    Two Areas for K-12 Schools to Assess for When to Work with a Managed Services Provider

    The complexity of today’s IT network infrastructure and increased cybersecurity risk are quickly moving beyond many school districts’ ability to manage on their own. But a new technology model, a partnership with a managed services provider, offers a way forward for schools to overcome these challenges.