New Mexico becomes first U.S. state to offer free universal child care to all families: ‘It can be done’

(Gray News) – New Mexico will become the first state in the U.S. to guarantee free universal child care.

According to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the new initiative will begin Nov. 1.

A news release Monday said this “groundbreaking new initiative will make child care available to all New Mexicans, regardless of income, by removing income eligibility requirements from the state’s child care assistance program and continuing the waiver of family copayments.”

The initiative fulfills a promise made by the governor and the New Mexico Legislature when they created the Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2019.

Initially, New Mexico expanded access to free child care to families below 400% of the federal poverty level. But now, universal child care will be extended to