New Mexico on Saturday became the first U.S. state to offer free child care to all residents in a bid to boost its economy and lift education and child welfare levels ranked the worst in the country.
Under the program, families, regardless of income, can receive state vouchers to cover public and private child care fees. It culminates efforts New Mexico has made to expand access to free child care since the governor and state legislature created the Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2019.
To achieve a fully universal system, New Mexico must create nearly 14,000 more child care slots and recruit 5,000 educators, according to its Democratic-run government. The state is establishing a $12.7 million low-interest loan fund to construct and expand child care facilities. It is also increasing reimbursement rates to providers that pay entry-level staff a minimum of $18 per hour, above the state’s $12 hourly minimum wage, and offer full-time care.
New Mexico somehow looked at the low bar of childcare subsidies for low income households, told that bar to go fuck itself, then raised it to free childcare for everyone.
Good job! Let’s see what other bars they can raise next. I’m hoping this is a huge success for them.
NM has also been making tuition free college a thing as well
MN reporting in, we do this too! But it looks like NM is really fixing to give us a run for our money!
