Santa Fe, NM – New Mexico is embarking on a important expansion of its early childhood care system, aiming to increase the workforce by 5,000 providers to meet growing demand and fully fund global preschool.The initiative, announced this week, represents a significant investment in the state’s youngest learners and their families.
New Mexico’s universal preschool program launched in July 2023, offering free preschool to all four-year-olds.Though, officials acknowledge a critical shortage of qualified early childhood educators threatens the program’s full potential. the state currently has approximately 14,000 early childhood professionals.
“We need to build a workforce that can meet the needs of all of our children,” said Elizabeth Groginsky, cabinet secretary of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), in a press release. “That means recruiting, retaining, and supporting our early childhood educators.”
The state plans to address the workforce gap through a multi-pronged approach, including increased wages, professional development opportunities, and scholarships for individuals pursuing careers in early childhood education. ECECD is also streamlining the credentialing process and working to reduce barriers to entry for potential providers.
Funding for the expansion comes from a combination of state and federal sources, including increased legislative appropriations and funds from the federal Child Care and Development Fund. The state has allocated significant resources to increase compensation for early childhood educators, with some providers seeing wage increases of up to 20%.
The success of this initiative is crucial not only for expanding access to preschool but also for supporting working families and boosting the state’s economy. A robust early childhood care system allows parents to participate in the workforce, knowing their children are in safe and nurturing environments.
