Feb 17, 2026

ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter: Monday, February 16, 2026

What's Inside: Early Childhood Day Success and Early Childhood Mentorship + 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

Early Childhood Day 2026: When Child Care Works, New Mexico Works

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, families, providers, advocates, and partners gathered at the Roundhouse to celebrate Early Childhood Day under this year’s theme, “When Child Care Works, New Mexico Works.”

The day centered on a clear message: child care makes it possible for families to work, businesses to grow, and communities to thrive. New Mexico’s early childhood investments continue to strengthen our workforce, support family economic stability, and ensure children have access to high-quality care and education.

We extend our gratitude to our partners, volunteers, and ECECD staff who helped make the day possible. We are especially grateful to Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, Senator Michael Padilla, and Representative Linda Serrato for joining us and lending their voices in support of New Mexico’s children and families.

We also took several moments to honor the memory of Peter Garcia Jr. ~ Kon P’in and Crystal Rosalie Peña, two early childhood advocates and changemakers we lost in 2025. Their dedication to children, families, and communities reflected the very spirit of the day.

When child care works, New Mexico works, and together, we continue building a strong foundation for children and families across our state.

View photos from Alax the Care Ambassador photo booth , sponsored by the LANL Foundation. For even more moments from the celebration, follow ECECD on social media @NewMexicoECECD.

Pictured: The Ohkay Owingeh Tribal Youth Dance Group performing the Buffalo Dance (top); and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra with the Santa Fe and Los Alamos Children’s Choirs (bottom), who performed New Mexico’s state song, “O Fair New Mexico.”

February 16, 2026

What's Inside?

1. Reminders/Announcements

2. Events

3. Professional Development

5. Boletín en Español

Reminders/Announcements

Senate Passes SB241 and SB96 to Strengthen Child Care Access and Expand Supply

The New Mexico Senate has passed SB241 and SB96 , two bills that would codify the Child Care Assistance Program into state law and reduce local zoning barriers for child care providers. These measures aim to improve transparency, support stable funding, and make it easier for providers to open and operate across the state. The bills now move to the House for further consideration.

Read the full article: Senate passes SB 241 and SB 96, strengthening child care access and supply on the ECECD website.

Apply Now: Advancing a Bilingual and Indigenous Early Childhood Workforce

ECECD is currently accepting applications for the Advancing a Bilingual and Indigenous Early Childhood Workforce stipend. This initiative, supported by a $1 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is designed to increase the number of bilingual and Indigenous educators across our state.

ECECD is committed to advancing a diverse, well-compensated, and credentialed workforce that meets the unique needs of New Mexico’s families. For the Spring 2026 semester, eligible students can receive a $1,500 stipend to support their journey toward an associate degree in early childhood fields.

Application Deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

About the Stipend:

Eligibility: Open to students who are bilingual/biliterate or from a New Mexico Nation, Pueblo or Tribe (NPTs).

Academic Requirements: Applicants must be enrolled in at least 3 credits of early childhood-related coursework and maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher.

Direct Support: The $1,500 stipend is paid directly to the student at the end of the semester upon confirmation of completed coursework.

We want to see our educators reach the finish line! Whether you are a new applicant or have participated in the past, we encourage you to apply and continue your professional growth.

Start Your Application Here .

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

Updated Universal Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates

Help New Mexico’s Children Bloom: Apply for the FY27 NM PreK Grant Today!

New Mexico Earns an EXEMPLARY Score on the 2026 National Child Care Finder Scale!

The Impact of the Just Right Readers Partnership

View More Reminders

Help Shape the Future of Early Childhood: 2026 Family Engagement Survey is live

ECECD has opened the final year of the Early Childhood Family Engagement and Satisfaction Survey —and we want to hear from you!

If you care for a child aged 0–5, your feedback will directly shape early childhood programs across the state. As a thank-you, you’ll receive a $10 digital gift card after you complete the survey.

This short 10–15 minute survey helps ECECD understand:

How easy it is to access early childhood programs

What supports your family values most

Where programs can be more inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive

How to better meet the needs of children with developmental delays or disabilities

Your voice plays a vital role in improving services for families today—and for future families across New Mexico. Every experience matters, and this is the last year to share yours through this statewide survey. Take the survey today at NextStepsNM.org .