Apr 13, 2026

ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter: Monday, April 13, 2026

What's Inside: New Mexico Early Learning Standards + more

The full-text version of the ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter is available on the ECECD website here . La versión completa del Boletín semanal sobre el cuidado de los niños está disponible en el sitio web del ECECD aquí .

Featured Story

New Mexico Early Learning Standards are Now Available

New Mexico's Early Learning Standards (ELS) are now available in English and Spanish. The ELS are a developmental framework describing what children from birth through age 5 know and are able to do. They replace the previous Early Learning Guidelines and were shaped by community input and the latest child development research.

To support a thoughtful transition, ECECD is releasing the ELS ahead of formal implementation. This gives practitioners, programs, and partners time to review the new developmental framework and begin exploring how it connects to their work.

ECECD is developing an implementation plan and practitioner resources. These will help you understand what the ELS mean for your setting and how to use them in your work. Practitioner engagement opportunities are being planned for the coming months, and your input will directly shape the tools that are developed.

You can view the ELS in English by clicking here!

You can view the ELS in Spanish by clicking here!

The New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards ceremony took place Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Albuquerque, N.M.

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) is proud to recognize the 2026 nominees from the Family Support and Early Intervention Division, representing the Family Infant Toddler (FIT), Home Visiting, and Family Connects New Mexico (FCNM) programs.

Whether providing rural coordination, community resources, executive leadership, or advocacy for those who cannot speak for themselves, these nominees are driven by a shared commitment to ensuring every New Mexico family have the opportunity to thrive. Their work fosters healthy pregnancies, builds trusting relationships, and creates nurturing environments for the state’s children.

Congratulations again, to the 2026 ECECD nominees:

Leasa Phipps, Southeast Region Nurse Supervisor

Deb LeBlanc, Nurse Home Visitor, Ruidoso

Deb Roberson, Nurse Home Visitor, Deming

Kristi Romero, Bureau Chief, Family Foundations Bureau

ECECD extends its gratitude to the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence for recognizing the vital contributions of these providers.

April 13, 2026

What's Inside?

1. Reminders/Announcements

2. Events

3. Professional Development

5. Boletín en Español

Reminders/Announcements

FY27 Home Visiting Application is Due Today!

The Home Visiting Application for Fiscal Year 2027 closes today at 5 p.m. Home Visiting offers a unique opportunity to provide informational, educational, and developmental support services that prevent adverse childhood experiences and promote parental competence.

By meeting families in their own environments, home visiting programs build the essential relationships and goals necessary to support wellness across physical, developmental, and emotional domains. This year, priority for expansion will be given to providers proposing to serve the Albuquerque metropolitan area, as well as Bernalillo, Cibola, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Guadalupe, McKinley, Otero, Roosevelt, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, and Torrance counties.

To learn more about the Home Visiting program or to make a referral , click here to visit NMECECD’s website .

Child Care Assistance Program Act: A Historic Victory!

During the 2026 legislative session, the New Mexico Legislature approved Senate Bill 241 (The Child Care Assistance Program Act). This landmark legislation codifies the Child Care Assistance Program and establishes Universal Child Care for families working or in school, making New Mexico a national leader in early childhood policy.

Key Highlights of SB241 :

Codifies Universal Child Care : Ensures long-term program integrity and quality across administrations with a focus on equity.

Sustainable Investment : Allows for up to $700 million in appropriations from the Early Childhood Trust Fund over the next five years.

Financial Relief for Families : Waives copayments for families with household incomes at or below 600% FPL and establishes clear safeguards for fiscal sustainability.

Workforce Support : Utilizes a Cost Estimation Model to ensure reimbursement rates reflect the true cost of quality care, including adequate wages for staff.

Strengthens Transparency and Accountability : Implements new reporting requirements to track program growth, participation by demographic, and the overall health of the child care sector.

This achievement was made possible by the dedication of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Legislature, and the thousands of advocates, providers, and families who championed this policy.

Click here to read the full SB241 Post-Session Fact Sheet here.

View more reminders on the full-text version of the Weekly Child Care newsletter.

Check Your Inbox for the 2026 Workforce Survey

Update to Planned Prospective Payments for Child Care Providers

Choose the Summer Food Service Program

View More Reminders