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New Mexico Becomes First U.S. State to Offer Free Child Care to All Residents
New Mexico offers free child care vouchers to all families to address poverty and shortage of providers, aiming to boost economy and improve education and child welfare.
- On Nov 1, New Mexico launched the first U.S. free child care program for all residents to boost its economy and improve education and child welfare, where it ranks last.
- It follows policy work since 2019 by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department and is financed mainly through oil and gas revenues in New Mexico, where nearly 18% live in poverty.
- Under the program, families in New Mexico regardless of income can receive state vouchers for public and private care, the state is boosting provider reimbursements to retain educators, and it established a low-interest loan fund to expand facilities.
- To achieve a fully universal system, state officials say New Mexico must create nearly 14,000 more child care slots and recruit 5,000 educators, while long waiting lists mean some children miss care before kindergarten.
- Research shows quality early care improves outcomes as New Mexican reading levels lag nationally, but critics including New Mexico State Representative Rebecca Dow argue no-cost care up to age 13 is too broad compared with Connecticut's recent bill.
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Dealing with the crushing costs of child care
For some, the high cost of child care in the U.S. is a higher expense than rents and mortgages, or even in-state college tuition, and has pushed tens of thousands of women out of the workforce this year alone. Tracy Smith talks with Reshma Saujani, CEO and founder of Moms First, who says Americans need to rethink how we think about child care. Smith also talks with parents in New Mexico, which has become the first state to offer free child care …
·United States
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New York PostReposted by 
DNyuz
DNyuzNew Mexico is first state to launch free child care for all to boost its economy
New Mexico became the first U.S. state to offer free child care to all residents to address their education and child welfare levels, which are ranked the worst in the country.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources24
Leaning Left7Leaning Right3Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 35%
C 50%
15%
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