Updated: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Spring 2026 Advancing a Bilingual and Indigenous Early Childhood Workforce Application
Application deadline Friday, February 20, 2026. MST.
About
The Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) strives to advance a diverse, well-compensated, and credentialed workforce that is prepared to meet the unique needs of families and children across New Mexico. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded ECECD $1 million over five years (2021-2026) to increase the number of bilingual and Indigenous early childhood educators in New Mexico. This will be the final semester ECECD will award this stipend. Since 2021 ECECD has used these funds to invest in bilingual and Indigenous students who are pursuing an early childhood associate degree.
Eligible students must complete the application by February 20, 2026, to receive a $1,500.00 stipend. The stipend will be awarded at the end of the semester upon confirmation of completed coursework and will be paid to each student directly.
We want to see you reach the finish line! Students who have received this stipend in previous semesters are encouraged to apply again and will be given priority consideration.
Eligible Students:
Eligible Students:
A student must apply and be enrolled in an associate degree program at an approved IHE/TCU and meet the specific criteria below:
- Be enrolled in at least 3 credits per semester/trimester of early childhood courses and/or other early childhood degree or certificate coursework (e.g., prerequisite courses) in the Fall or Spring semesters/trimesters starting in 2022 to 2026;
- Remain in good academic standing with a 2.5 GPA or higher; and
- Be bilingual and/or biliterate or from a Tribe, Pueblo or Nation in New Mexico
- Be enrolled in one of the following associate degree programs, which includes:
- Early Childhood Education Birth to Age 3
- Early Childhood Education Age 3 to Grade 3
- Program Administration
- Infant Family Studies
- Social Work (Home Visiting/FIT Program)
Process for participating in this initiative:
- Complete the Bilingual and Indigenous Early Childhood Application no later than Friday, February 20, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.
- Award notification will be sent via email.
Contact:
Andrea Gallegos
Quality Initiatives Program Manager
Email: andrea.gallegos@ececd.nm.gov
If you have received these funds over the years, we would love to hear your story! Send Andrea Gallegos and email at the address above and share with us.
Participating Higher Education Institutions
- Central New Mexico Community College
- Clovis Community College
- Diné College
- Doña Ana Community College
- Eastern New Mexico University, Portales
- Eastern New Mexico University, Ruidoso
- Luna Community College
- Navajo Technical University
- New Mexico Junior College
- New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas
- New Mexico Highlands University, Rio Rancho
- New Mexico State University, Alamogordo
- Northern New Mexico College
- San Juan Community College
- Santa Fe Community College
- Southeast New Mexico College
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- University of New Mexico Taos
- Western New Mexico University