New Mexico recently expanded the eligibility requirements for free child care. Now families earning up to 400% of federal poverty level – $111,000 for a family of four – are eligible. The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department estimates that over 30,000 families will now qualify for free child care. The bill also dedicated $10 million toward grants designed to expand child care in communities where it is needed most. Finally, the state will pay up to $2,000 per semester for early childhood professionals enrolled in degree programs.
