After a tense House Education Committee hearing, HB 253 passed 8–4, but the most dangerous language was removed. The provisions that would have effectively ended virtual public schools in New Mexico are no longer in the bill.

The proposed "Distance Learning Act" (HB 253) would fundamentally change virtual education in New Mexico. If passed, it would give the Public Education Department (PED) unprecedented control over where and how your child learns.

In this article, we take a closer look at the school choice landscape and availability of virtual schools in New York State, what students are helped most, and what changes are needed to ensure that no student is left behind.

HB 253 could end virtual schooling in New Mexico. Virtual public schools serve students whose needs are not met by one-size-fits-all systems. This includes rural and geographically isolated students, those with medical needs or disabilities, working families, and students who have experienced bullying, chronic absenteeism, or credit loss. For many, virtual learning is not a preference—it is a lifeline.

In this blog post, Parents for School Options explains why virtual learning has become a lifeline for so many vulnerable families, and why nutrition support must follow students regardless of how or where they attend school.

Parents for School Options fully supports Mississipi's HB 2, the "Mississippi Educational Freedom Act." Legislators should be commended for recognizing that parents—not systems—are best positioned to direct a child’s education.