New Mexico has taken a groundbreaking step in its bid to improve childhood wellbeing by becoming the first US state to offer free childcare to all its families, regardless of income. The move was made possible by years of tireless campaigning by early-childhood educators and advocates like Sandra Ibarra.
Ibarra, who immigrated to the US from Mexico several years ago, initially struggled with poor pay as a childcare worker. She recalled feeling fearful and overwhelmed when first getting involved in activism, but has since become an assistant director at a five-star early childhood center in Albuquerque. Her journey is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing.
New Mexico's decision to offer free childcare was not taken lightly. The state had been exploring ways to fund early childhood education for over a decade, with advocates drawing inspiration from Nebraska's successful model. However, progress was slow, and the path to success involved building coalitions, educating lawmakers, and overcoming fierce resistance from fiscal conservatives.
The turning point came in 2022 when New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment to fund early childhood education. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham then announced that the state would begin offering free childcare on November 1st this year, starting with families earning up to $124,000 per year.
While critics have warned that the program must be codified in law to remain effective after Lujan Grisham's term ends next year, advocates like Ibarra are buoyed by the success and are looking forward to further reforms. They argue that a fair pay scale for early-childhood educators is essential to creating high-quality, local childcare centers.
The impact of this move will be felt far beyond New Mexico's borders. As federal spending on social supports increases in jeopardy, states like New Mexico may find themselves leading the way in innovative policies to support working-class families.
For Ibarra and others like her, the true victory lies not just in securing funding for early childhood education but also in recognizing the value of childcare workers as essential members of their communities. "All the work we've done is for the teachers," she said, "but above all for the families."
Ibarra, who immigrated to the US from Mexico several years ago, initially struggled with poor pay as a childcare worker. She recalled feeling fearful and overwhelmed when first getting involved in activism, but has since become an assistant director at a five-star early childhood center in Albuquerque. Her journey is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing.
New Mexico's decision to offer free childcare was not taken lightly. The state had been exploring ways to fund early childhood education for over a decade, with advocates drawing inspiration from Nebraska's successful model. However, progress was slow, and the path to success involved building coalitions, educating lawmakers, and overcoming fierce resistance from fiscal conservatives.
The turning point came in 2022 when New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment to fund early childhood education. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham then announced that the state would begin offering free childcare on November 1st this year, starting with families earning up to $124,000 per year.
While critics have warned that the program must be codified in law to remain effective after Lujan Grisham's term ends next year, advocates like Ibarra are buoyed by the success and are looking forward to further reforms. They argue that a fair pay scale for early-childhood educators is essential to creating high-quality, local childcare centers.
The impact of this move will be felt far beyond New Mexico's borders. As federal spending on social supports increases in jeopardy, states like New Mexico may find themselves leading the way in innovative policies to support working-class families.
For Ibarra and others like her, the true victory lies not just in securing funding for early childhood education but also in recognizing the value of childcare workers as essential members of their communities. "All the work we've done is for the teachers," she said, "but above all for the families."
. The fact that it's free for all fams regardless of income is like super generous. I can imagine how tough it must've been for Sandra Ibarra to start out, but she just kept pushing and now shes a big deal in the community 
. It makes sense that they had to build coalitions and educate lawmakers before this happened though. I'm curious about what happens next tho... will other states follow suit? And how's it gonna affect ppl who are already struggling financially 
! I mean, can you imagine a world where every single family has access to quality childcare without worrying about the financial burden? 
It's just so inspiring to see Sandra Ibarra and all the advocates who've been fighting for this cause finally get the recognition they deserve.
But New Mexico is showing us that it's possible to create a more equitable system where everyone has access to quality education and care.
, so I'm hoping this becomes a model for other states to follow. And let's be real, if we can make childcare free for families earning up to $124,000 a year, what can't we achieve? 
It's going to take some work, but I'm so excited to see where this momentum takes us! 
! Free childcare for all fams, regardless of income, is a total game changer 
.
. We need more innovative policies like this to support working-class families, who are already feeling the squeeze with rising costs of living and whatnot 
. And let's not forget about fair pay scales for early-childhood educators – that's a total must! 
They're the backbone of our community, after all 
.
. But for now, I'm just gonna bask in the glow of progress & feel good vibes 
!
They're finally getting the respect they deserve! 
I mean, Sandra Ibarra's story is so inspiring, from struggling with pay to becoming an assistant director - that's the power of grassroots organizing, baby! 
. Plus, I'm still not convinced that just throwing more cash at childcare will magically fix everything 
. It needs more than just funding, it needs systemic changes and better working conditions for those on the ground, you know? Let's not get too carried away here 
.
Anyway, this is all thanks to Sandra Ibarra and her crew who fought hard for years 
.
. And I agree with her, the real victory isn't just about funding childcare programs, it's also about recognizing the value of childcare workers and giving them fair pay scales 
. I'm not surprised that critics are already warning about the need for codification, but let's be real, if it works now, why not make it permanent? 
. i can only imagine how Sandra Ibarra felt when she was struggling to make ends meet as a childcare worker... but now, she's on the other side of the table, fighting for change 
