I've seen what it's like for fast learners in both under-resourced and well resourced schools in New Mexico. Disadvantaged, high-ability students usually find themselves in schools that focus on the needs of others scoring just below proficient on tests. In schools with a high concentration of parents with college degrees, however, highly able students are often instructed at their own ability level, with faster learners advancing at an accelerated rate, grouped for challenging instruction in math and reading. This disparity results in an ever-widening excellence gap. As advanced disadvantaged students graduate from high school, many lack readiness to compete for limited advanced opportunities in college and beyond.

Advanced learning opportunities must be available in every school to support fast learners from diverse cultural, linguistic, racial, and socio-economic groups. House Bill 454 requires districts to establish equitable acceleration policies providing fast learners with appropriate levels of instruction. It also requires that school acknowledge and address the unique needs of highly able students with physical, socio-emotional, transportation, and communication needs, including twice-exceptional students with both intellectual ability and a disability. 

Potential is the same everywhere. Differences in achievement are due to differences in opportunity. HB 454 begins to close the gap of opportunity everywhere in New Mexico. Members of the Senate Education Committee must support HB 454 in this legislative session to begin to address excellence gaps in New Mexico public schools.