Bill would require New Mexico students to apply to college

A bill in the New Mexico legislature would require the state’s junior high school students to either apply to college or prove they have post-secondary plans.

The proposal’s first legislative hearing is Thursday, according to a report by the Associated Press. The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Albuquerque-area representatives Nate Gentry (a Republican) and Daniel Ivey-Soto (a Democrat).

Las Cruces Public Schools could not comment on the pending legislation, but the district’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning stressed the unique needs of students.

“We try to prepare them… to be ready for whatever they choose,” said Dr. Wendi Miller-Tomlinson. “I don’t think it’s really our aim to direct them in any particular way, we certainly want to encourage them to follow their interests.”

The intent of the proposal was to boost enrollment at New Mexico’s colleges, which saw a drop in enrollment of nearly 14% from 2010 to 2016, according to the report.

New Mexico’s high school graduation rate is at 71%, the second worst in the nation, according to the United States Department of Education.

“Our first goal is a high school diploma and to help our students attain a high school diploma,” Miller-Tomlinson said.

Public high school juniors will have to apply to at least one two-year or four-year college, according to the report. However, the proposal will excuse students with post-secondary plans like military service, vocational studies or a job or internship.

“They have diverse interests in high school and they have diverse interests in what they would like to pursue after high school,” Miller-Tomlinson said. “We try to prepare them for whichever way they decide to go. Many of them change their minds. Some of them start out in a career field and move in to a post-secondary educational opportunity later on.”

Under the bill, students would not be required to attend college, simply to apply.