Oct 27, 2025

ECECD Early Childhood Community Newsletter: Monday, October 27, 2025

What's Inside: Take the Universal Child Care Pledge, Join ECECD for Universal Child Care Community Conversations + 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

Take the Universal Child Care Pledge

New Mexico is leading the nation with Universal Child Care, and ECECD invites providers, families, businesses, and community partners to join the movement by taking the Universal Child Care Pledge. This is a public commitment to making our system a success for everyone and helping to build a stronger, more equitable early childhood system for New Mexico families.

By taking the pledge, you are committing to supporting universal access, encouraging families to enroll in Child Care Assistance, supporting ECECD's outreach efforts. Sign the pledge today to receive your “UCC Proud” digital badge to display on your website or social media. After you sign, share your participation using #UCCProud and tag @NewMexicoECECD.

Take the Pledge Now

Join ECECD for Universal Child Care Community Conversations

Starting Saturday, November 1, 2025 , New Mexico will become the first state in the nation to offer no-cost universal child care, extending access to families regardless of income. As we prepare for this historic milestone, ECECD is hosting a series of virtual and in-person community conversations to answer questions and share what families and providers can expect in the months ahead.

These sessions are a chance for us to connect and ensure families and providers have clear, up-to-date information. Virtual office hours begin Tuesday, October 28, 2025 , and in-person "Fall Tour" event announcements are coming soon. We encourage all our partners—schools, families, providers, and community members—to help spread the word. Please join us for these important conversations.

Universal Child Care 101 for Families

Universal Child Care 101 for Providers

Stay tuned to nmececd.org/universal and ECECD’s social media pages ( @NewMexicoECECD ) for virtual event registration and in-person event announcements.

October 27, 2025

What's Inside?

1. Reminders/Announcements

2. Events

3. Professional Development

5. Boletín en Español

Reminders/Announcements

Now Accepting Applications: Child Care Facility Loan Fund

Child Care Facility Loan Fund Now Accepting Applications

The Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) and the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) are proud to announce that the Child Care Facility Loan Fund is now accepting applications. This program provides low-interest, long-term loans to make affordable financing available for major capital projects to renovate, expand, or construct licensed child care facilities.

Program Details:

Loan Amount: Available loans start at $100,000.

Eligibility: Open to child care providers (individuals, private businesses, non-profits, Tribal entities) and employers wishing to provide child care for their employees.

Priority: Projects that will create more child care in underserved communities, particularly for infants and toddlers, are strongly encouraged to apply.

The application period is open now and will close on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 5 p.m.

Learn more and apply here

Please note: Partial loan abatement options are available to borrowers who meet special criteria.

Congratulations to Nancy Orta, 2026 New Mexico Teacher of the Year!

Las Cruces First Grade Teacher Named 2026 NM Teacher of the Year

We are thrilled to celebrate Nancy Orta, a first-grade teacher at East Picacho Elementary School in Las Cruces, who was named the 2026 New Mexico Teacher of the Year by the Public Education Department (PED). Ms. Orta is being recognized for her decades-long dedication to literacy, early childhood education, and student success. Her work strongly supports the foundation we build in early childhood, particularly through her implementation of the Science of Reading and systematic phonics instruction in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms.

“Congratulations to Nancy Orta on this incredible achievement,” said PED Secretary Mariana D. Padilla. “Working with our youngest students takes tremendous talent, kindness and, of course, patience — and Ms. Orta exemplifies all of those traits in abundance.” Ms. Orta will represent New Mexico in the National Teacher of the Year competition. Please join us in congratulating her on this outstanding honor!

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

Share Your Story with the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department!

Family Nutrition Bureau Updates

Sacred Beginnings Learning Tour

NM PreK Program Updates

View More Reminders