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.
Slightly larger in area than the United Kingdom, with only 2.1 million people, the state will fund universal child care — estimated to cost $600 million annually — largely with interest from its Early Childhood Education and Care Fund.
The fund has grown to around $10 billion primarily from oil and gas taxes since it was set up in 2020. The sector generates about half of total state revenue. It will also draw from another large trust fund and seek appropriations from the Democratic-controlled state legislature.
New Mexico joins countries such as Norway and Belgium that offer free universal child care for children under 3, and Bulgaria, where early childhood education is free for all children until elementary school. New Mexico is going further by offering no-cost child care for children up to age 13.
Critics such as New Mexico state Rep. Rebecca Dow, a Republican, say families should be given a choice between a monthly $1,200 state tax credit for a parent to stay home with a child — the equivalent cost of state-funded child care — or free child care. She said research showed the best place for a young child was at home in a healthy, safe household.
Posted by John3262005
1 Comment
Honestly the Republican here is right for once
>Critics such as New Mexico state Rep. Rebecca Dow, a Republican, say families should be given a choice between a monthly $1,200 state tax credit for a parent to stay home with a child — the equivalent cost of state-funded child care — or free child care. She said research showed the best place for a young child was at home in a healthy, safe household.
Parents should have the ability to choose.