Save the Children Action Network Lauds New Mexico’s Universal Child Care Announcement 

New Mexico (September 8, 2025) – Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) celebrates today’s historic announcement about universal child care in New Mexico. SCAN thanks Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Secretary of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) Elizabeth Groginsky for laying the groundwork for New Mexico become the first state to make child care free for all families, regardless of income.  

New Mexico continues to be a national leader in early childhood education: including universal preschool, expanded child care access, and early educator wage growth. SCAN looks forward to partnering with the legislature and administration on ensuring low-income families continue to benefit from child care assistance, and implementing a formal pay scale with clear opportunities for advancement.  

“Early educators are the backbone of the child care system, and New Mexico early educators continue to experience a mix of low wages and few benefits, making it harder than ever to attract and retain these professionals,” said Nina Quintana, State Manager for SCAN. “Recognizing and honoring their experience, education, and commitment to the field will strengthen the workforce through retention and recruitment, increasing quality for children and families.” 

New Mexico children and families face a multitude of difficulties when it comes to early childhood education, including rural, linguistic, and cultural challenges. A fully invested Wage and Career Ladder addresses these issues and ensures that our educators all across the state have the support needed to provide the best care possible. 

Since SCAN entered New Mexico in 2018, we have worked toward this goal of universal child care, together with our coalition partners and grassroots advocates. We successfully advocated for the creation of the ECECD, and the establishment of permanent funding via the Early Childhood Trust Fund and voter approved Constitutional Amendment 1 for early childhood education. Taken together, these policy victories represent a better future for New Mexican families, children, and early education professionals. 

We applaud the governor for this historic announcement and look forward to delivering on the promise of Constitutional Amendment 1, ensuring every New Mexico family has access to high-quality, affordable child care and every early educator is fairly compensated for the critical work they do to help children thrive.

About Save the Children Action Network (SCAN):
Save the Children Action Network is committed to ensuring every child has a strong start in life. SCAN mobilizes grassroots advocates, supports bipartisan leaders, and advances policies that expand access to early learning and end child hunger in the U.S. and around the world.

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