The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) has introduced new public dashboards and assessment tools aimed at building a more accountable and transparent early childhood system in the state. These measures were presented as part of ECECD’s response to the Legislative Finance Committee’s (LFC) request for stronger program quality and data-driven accountability.
“By embedding accountability and transparency into every stage of system-building, ECECD is creating a sustainable, universal early childhood system that families can count on for generations,” said Groginsky. “These new tools give us a clear picture of what results we are achieving, allowing us to identify strengths, address gaps, and ensure every dollar invested creates real, measurable outcomes for New Mexico’s children and families.”
The new resources are intended to strengthen program quality, increase access, improve transparency, and support policy decisions with reliable data. This effort reflects the shared objective of both the LFC and ECECD to improve outcomes for children and families in New Mexico.
Since 2019, with support from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration and legislative investments, New Mexico has increased access to pre-K programs, home visiting services, child care options, and early intervention initiatives. The state has also worked on stabilizing the early childhood workforce by offering higher wages, career pathways, and professional development opportunities. These steps aim to make high-quality early childhood services accessible to more families.
Recent data show notable progress since Fiscal Year 2021. Projections indicate that by 2027 more than three-quarters of eligible families will have access to infant and toddler child care. Universal access has already been achieved for four-year-olds in pre-K programs; efforts continue toward reaching similar levels for three-year-olds.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham established the ECECD in 2020 as one of the first cabinet-level agencies in the nation dedicated solely to early childhood programs. Since then, ECECD has expanded free PreK offerings statewide and managed significant investments in infrastructure for young children. Cost-free child care is now available for most families across New Mexico. More information about ECECD's work can be found at https://nmececd.org/.
