New Mexico Takes a Big Step: Free Child Care for Everyone

New Mexico has done something no other state in the U. S. has done before. It now offers free child care to all families, no matter how much they earn. This big move aims to help the state's economy and improve its low rankings in education and child welfare. To make this happen, New Mexico is giving out state vouchers to cover child care costs at both public and private centers. This idea has been in the works since 2019 when the state created a special department for early childhood education and care. Other places, like Connecticut and New York, are also looking into making child care more affordable. Connecticut recently passed a law that makes child care free for families earning less than $100, 000 a year. In New York, a mayoral candidate has proposed making child care free for everyone. For many families, this change means big savings. Take Allyson O’Brien, a special education teacher in Taos. She and her husband used to spend around $12, 000 a year on child care for their son. Now, they can use that money for other important things, like vacations or paying bills. But there are some challenges. New Mexico needs to create nearly 14, 000 more child care slots and hire 5, 000 more educators to make this work. The state is investing $12. 7 million to build and expand child care facilities. It's also increasing pay for child care workers to at least $18 an hour, which is higher than the state's minimum wage. Alison McPartlon, who runs a child care center in Taos, says the demand is so high that some kids don't get a spot before they start kindergarten. She hopes the higher reimbursement rates will help attract and keep good educators. New Mexico's governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, says this program is crucial for helping families work, go to school, and lift themselves out of poverty. Nearly 18% of New Mexicans live below the poverty line, making it one of the poorest states in the U. S. The state plans to fund this program with money from its Early Childhood Education and Care Fund, which has grown to around $10 billion mostly from oil and gas taxes. The program is expected to cost about $600 million each year. Research shows that good quality child care can improve education outcomes, especially for low-income families. However, New Mexico has consistently ranked last in both education and child well-being. This new program aims to change that. Not everyone supports the idea. Some critics, like Republican state representative Rebecca Dow, argue that families should have the choice between free child care and a monthly tax credit to stay home with their kids. Dow worries that there aren't enough daycare slots to meet the demand.