After months of planning, convening and dreaming, I’m excited to announce the launch of NewMexicoKidsCAN: The New Mexico Campaign for Achievement Now.

Today, over 300,000 students are enrolled in New Mexico public schools. Every single one of them deserves a great teacher, a great school and an education that prepares them for their future.

It’s NewMexicoKidsCAN’s job to deliver on that promise.

How will we do it?

NewMexicoKidsCAN advocates for community-informed, student-centered and research-backed education policies. This year, we’ll start by demanding that every child, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, has equal access to great teachers. By ensuring that New Mexico has a pipeline of talented individuals who are well prepared to serve our students and that our very best teachers are rewarded for their great work. And by identifying results-oriented charter schools and giving them the opportunity to grow while being held accountable to clear, objective and measurable performance outcomes to earn the right to continue serving students.

At NewMexicoKidsCAN, we believe that our schools can change lives and that delivering on the promise of an excellent education for every child is within reach. We hope you will join us in our deep belief that all kids can succeed and that great schools can be the agents of change. The time is now to put our kids first, but we can’t do it without your help.

Here are three ways you can get involved right now:

1. Read our inaugural State of Education report for a comprehensive understanding of our current education system. Once you’ve read it, please share your thoughts with us on social media using #NMStateofEd2018.
2. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
3. Text NMKIDSCAN to 52886 to receive updates about our work.

Thank you for joining us in this movement. I look forward to working with you until every child in New Mexico can reach their dreams.