New Mexico Charts A Path For Universal Child Care – The 74
New Mexico Charts A Path For Universal Child Care – The 74
uaetodaynews.com — New Mexico Charts a Path for Universal Child Care – The 74
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On Nov. 1, New Mexico will become the first state in the country to offer universal child care for every working family. The step is groundbreaking, and it’s important to recognize that the state plans to do it by investing in the early educators and caregivers who serve families in the settings they want for their young children.
As leaders in early childhood education whose organizations represent those working across the broad spectrum of care environments, we are united in our support of New Mexico’s approach to addressing the child care scarcity that long has vexed policymakers, providers and parents alike. By designing and funding a system that is “both/and” rather than “either/or,” the state is addressing the needs of families and providers across center-based, home-based, school-based and friend, family, and neighbor (FFN) care settings.
We are also energized by what other states can — and should — learn from New Mexico’s progress.
The state has taken a series of policy and funding actions over the past six years that have led it to create a dedicated funding stream for early childhood, approve a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to early education and eventually announce plans to make universal child care a reality. Others can learn lessons from these actions about how to strengthen their own child care systems, whether by making them more robust or even building a path to universal child care, so they can see the benefits in their own backyard.
The reality is that families in the U.S. rely on a fragile child care ecosystem, one that is often cobbled together to reflect each family’s unique needs, schedules and goals. But one thing all families share is a desire for their young children to be safe, happy, healthy and learning — no matter where they are. So a universal child care plan offering true choice is a win for everyone, as New Mexicans soon will experience.
Over the years, a key priority for the state’s policymakers has been increasing the supply of quality child care by supporting educators and caregivers. New Mexico has made advancements including raising wages for early educators and increasing reimbursements rates for those who take subsidies. The universal child care system’s foundation will be built on growing the number of well-compensated, well-prepared, well-supported providers across all settings.
New Mexico estimates that it needs another 5,000 early learning professionals, and the state pledges to grow the field by, among other things, building on years of investment in the education, preparation and compensation of early childhood educators. The state is committed to meeting parents and providers where they are, including by providing resources and support in multiple languages. The state will also offer low-interest loans for facility expansion; partner with school districts and employers to expand options for working families; launch a campaign to recruit licensed and registered home-based child care providers; make it easier for relative caregivers to participate in state programs; and increase reimbursement rates to programs to reflect the true cost of care, including incentivizing programs that offer a wage scale beginning at $18 per hour.
The bottom line is that there will be multiple entry points and advancement opportunities for early childhood educators along with strong support for caregivers under New Mexico’s new system — and each of those will create more supply of quality care options for babies and young children.
We believe that this is how universal child care can and should work. Families, regardless of income, have the option to choose the setting that works for them while states strengthen and fund the entire continuum of care and education by prioritizing the people who provide it.
Success in New Mexico will require continued investment from the state legislature, ongoing collaboration between provider and caregiver communities, and efforts to expand access to high-quality child care environments. And it will require a continuation of the kind of advocacy, bold leadership and grassroots activism the state’s early childhood educators, caregivers and families led for years, which helped lead the state to this groundbreaking step.
For too long, families and policymakers have been faced with impossible decisions about whether to prioritize affordable care or quality child care, and how to support providers across a variety of places where early care and education happen. New Mexico’s step aims to put that to an end.
We have every confidence that New Mexico will make it work and demonstrate that there is a path forward in advancing toward universal child care. Every state with a child care crisis — and that’s all of them — can embrace the successes that come from New Mexico’s effort to support early educators and caregivers, which illustrates what’s possible when we come together for children and families.
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Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification.
We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Author: Michelle Kang and Erica Phillips and Natalie Renew
Published on: 2025-10-30 23:10:00
Source: www.the74million.org
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Sign up now.n n n n nOn Nov. 1, New Mexico will become the first state in the country to offer universal child care for every working family. The step is groundbreaking, and it’s important to recognize that the state plans to do it by investing in the early educators and caregivers who serve families in the settings they want for their young children.nnnnAs leaders in early childhood education whose organizations represent those working across the broad spectrum of care environments, we are united in our support of New Mexico’s approach to addressing the child care scarcity that long has vexed policymakers, providers and parents alike. By designing and funding a system that is “both/and” rather than “either/or,” the state is addressing the needs of families and providers across center-based, home-based, school-based and friend, family, and neighbor (FFN) care settings.nnnnWe are also energized by what other states can — and should — learn from New Mexico’s progress. nnnnThe state has taken a series of policy and funding actions over the past six years that have led it to create a dedicated funding stream for early childhood, approve a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to early education and eventually announce plans to make universal child care a reality. Others can learn lessons from these actions about how to strengthen their own child care systems, whether by making them more robust or even building a path to universal child care, so they can see the benefits in their own backyard.nnnnThe reality is that families in the U.S. rely on a fragile child care ecosystem, one that is often cobbled together to reflect each family’s unique needs, schedules and goals. But one thing all families share is a desire for their young children to be safe, happy, healthy and learning — no matter where they are. So a universal child care plan offering true choice is a win for everyone, as New Mexicans soon will experience.nnnnOver the years, a key priority for the state’s policymakers has been increasing the supply of quality child care by supporting educators and caregivers. New Mexico has made advancements including raising wages for early educators and increasing reimbursements rates for those who take subsidies. The universal child care system’s foundation will be built on growing the number of well-compensated, well-prepared, well-supported providers across all settings.nnnnNew Mexico estimates that it needs another 5,000 early learning professionals, and the state pledges to grow the field by, among other things, building on years of investment in the education, preparation and compensation of early childhood educators. The state is committed to meeting parents and providers where they are, including by providing resources and support in multiple languages. The state will also offer low-interest loans for facility expansion; partner with school districts and employers to expand options for working families; launch a campaign to recruit licensed and registered home-based child care providers; make it easier for relative caregivers to participate in state programs; and increase reimbursement rates to programs to reflect the true cost of care, including incentivizing programs that offer a wage scale beginning at $18 per hour.nnnnThe bottom line is that there will be multiple entry points and advancement opportunities for early childhood educators along with strong support for caregivers under New Mexico’s new system — and each of those will create more supply of quality care options for babies and young children. nnnnWe believe that this is how universal child care can and should work. Families, regardless of income, have the option to choose the setting that works for them while states strengthen and fund the entire continuum of care and education by prioritizing the people who provide it.nnnnRelatedNew Mexico Will Become the First State to Offer Universal Child CarennnnSuccess in New Mexico will require continued investment from the state legislature, ongoing collaboration between provider and caregiver communities, and efforts to expand access to high-quality child care environments. And it will require a continuation of the kind of advocacy, bold leadership and grassroots activism the state’s early childhood educators, caregivers and families led for years, which helped lead the state to this groundbreaking step.nnnnFor too long, families and policymakers have been faced with impossible decisions about whether to prioritize affordable care or quality child care, and how to support providers across a variety of places where early care and education happen. New Mexico’s step aims to put that to an end.nnnnWe have every confidence that New Mexico will make it work and demonstrate that there is a path forward in advancing toward universal child care. Every state with a child care crisis — and that’s all of them — can embrace the successes that come from New Mexico’s effort to support early educators and caregivers, which illustrates what’s possible when we come together for children and families.nn n n n Did you use this article in your work?rnWe’d love to hear how The 74’s reporting is helping educators, researchers, and policymakers. 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Disclaimer: This news article has been republished exactly as it appeared on its original source, without any modification. We do not take any responsibility for its content, which remains solely the responsibility of the original publisher.
Author: uaetodaynews
Published on: 2025-11-03 08:59:00
Source: uaetodaynews.com
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