Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2025
CONTACT
Julia Sclafani
Public Relations Specialist
Email: ECECD-PIO@ececd.nm.gov
Mobile: (505) 699–5937
1120 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Council advises state on strengthening New Mexico’s prenatal-to-5 system
SANTA FE — New Mexico’s Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council released its 2025 Annual Report this month, detailing its major activities throughout the year and outlining 16 recommendations to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) that focus on strengthening the state’s prenatal-to-5 system.
The council’s 2026 recommendations include continuing the work of 2025, as well as strengthening data sovereignty protocols with Nations, Pueblos and Tribes; aligning program standards across NM PreK and Head Start programs; and expanding public-private partnerships to grow child care supply to meet demand. A full report is available on the Advisory Council webpage.
The council advises the state on early childhood issues, with membership representing range of stakeholders from across the early childhood system, including state and local education leaders, early childhood professionals, service providers, Tribal representatives, parent representatives and other community members. The council fulfills a federal requirement under the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 for each state to establish an advisory council on early childhood education and care.
“From Universal Child Care to the wage scale and career lattice, we are seeing real, lasting change take shape for families and early childhood professionals across the state,” said Council Chair Daisy Lira. “I am proud of what this council has accomplished and energized by what lies ahead.”
Four subcommittees — covering public-private partnerships; early childhood professionals; program quality and accountability; and data, infrastructure and analysis — developed recommendations for 2026 approved by the full council at its Dec. 10 meeting.
“The Advisory Council’s guidance has been instrumental in shaping some of New Mexico’s most significant early childhood milestones, including the governor’s historic decision to make New Mexico the first state in the nation to offer Universal Child Care to working families regardless of income,” said ECECD Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky. “The voices of this council are woven into the policies and programs that will benefit New Mexico families for generations to come.”
The council’s next meeting will be held Wednesday, May 13, in Clovis. The agenda, location details and the full 2026 meeting calendar are available on the Advisory Council webpage.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org. On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD.