Three years ago, New Mexico became the first state in the nation to offer free childcare to a majority of families.
The United States has no federal, universal childcare – and ranks 40th on a Unicef ranking of 41 high-income countries’ childcare policies, while maintaining some of the highest childcare costs in the world.
Expanding on pandemic-era assistance, New Mexico made childcare free for families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or about $124,000 for a family of four.
The state, which had long ranked worst in the nation for child wellbeing, saw its poverty rate begin to fall.
In 2020, 27.4% of childcare providers – often women of color – were living in poverty.
“This is generational change” that New Mexico is only just beginning to witness as the first children who were recipients of universal childcare start school.
Sanchez urges other New Mexican families to take advantage of the opportunity to access free childcare. »
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