Leading From the Front : New Mexico Introduces Proposed Regulations Aimed at Improving Childcare

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) has introduced proposed regulations aimed at ensuring eligible families in New Mexico continue to receive free child care through the child care assistance (CCA) program, while also providing increased rates for child care providers. These changes are aligned with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's vision of universal, high-quality early care and education. The state's commitment to reducing financial burdens on families and fairly compensating early childhood educators is emphasized, with ongoing efforts to establish a robust early childhood system that benefits families and children.

The expansion of the child care assistance program has enabled parents like Vicki Sampler, a single mother of four, to work full time while having peace of mind about their children's safety and education. New Mexico has been a leader in innovative and impactful investments in early childhood over the past three years, utilizing federal relief funds to stabilize the child care industry, enhance the workforce, and alleviate financial strain on families in need of child care services.

Governor Lujan Grisham and the state legislature have made historic investments in early childhood programs and services for the upcoming fiscal year. These investments are partly funded by redirecting a portion of the Land Grant Permanent Fund for early childhood education, a decision supported by over 70 percent of New Mexico voters. The new proposed regulations maintain and build upon these advancements, with the following key elements:

1. Continue eligibility for child care assistance up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL).
2. Increase child care assistance rates for providers starting August 1, 2023.
3. Provide advance notice to clients and providers if the state implements copayments.
4. Revise the sliding fee scale, exempting families up to 185 percent of the FPL from copayments.
5. Ensure that families receiving child care assistance are not subjected to gross receipts taxes on child care expenses, as this cost is included in the proposed rate increases.

The changes are seen as part of a larger effort to transform New Mexico's prenatal-to-age-five system, with a focus on expanding PreK programs, enhancing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, extending home visiting programs to more counties, and leveraging federal Head Start resources to better serve families. The proposed regulations are expected to have a positive impact on child care providers, families, and the overall early childhood education landscape in New Mexico.