Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2025
CONTACT
Julia Sclafani
Public Relations Specialist
Email: julia.sclafani@ececd.nm.gov
Mobile: (505) 699–5937
1120 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council convened on Wednesday, Jan. 22, to discuss the New Mexico Legislature’s 60-day session, the Council’s 2024 annual report, and a look-ahead at 2025 for the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD).
“For years, the early childhood community has not had a voice at the table. Now, another year is starting with voices heard, from every corner of New Mexico, and sharing the same goal: improving outcomes for the state’s youngest children and their families,” said Council member Daisy Lira. “I am excited to start another year alongside one of the most impactful leaders New Mexico has come to know, Secretary Groginsky. I’m excited to continue seeing great things happen for our young children, as well as for the ECECD services that continue to grow and serve New Mexico communities.”
The Council reviewed Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s budget recommendation for ECECD and were updated on proposed legislative bills touching early childhood.
“I am thrilled and honored to have such a committed and diverse group of public and private sector partners shaping the development of New Mexico’s prenatal-to-age-5 early childhood system” said ECECD Sec. Elizabeth Groginsky. “The advisements and recommendations of this Council are thoughtful and relevant to the needs of families in New Mexico.”
The meeting agenda included a presentation of the Council’s 2024 annual report, which outlines the Council’s major advisements and recommendations to the governor and ECECD. The publication also includes a status report of the recommendations made in 2023.
The major advisements in 2024 included:
- The implementation of the Early Development Instrument, an assessment tool focused on measuring early development outcomes and school readiness.
- ECECD’s FOCUS redesign, which will update New Mexico’s Quality Rating and Improvement System for child care providers.
- Pay parity for infant and toddler educators.
- The development of a wage scale and career lattice for early childhood professionals.
- ECECD’s five-year finance plan.
Find more information about the council, it’s activity and publications, including the latest annual report, on the Council webpage: Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council | Early Childhood Education & Care Department
The Advisory Council is composed of state and local education leaders, early childhood professionals, service providers, Tribal representatives, parent representatives, and other individuals representing communities impacted by early care and education policies. The Council engages with a wide range of stakeholders to guide and build upon the state’s ongoing work to create a comprehensive, affordable, and high-quality prenatal-to-5 system that meets the needs of New Mexico’s children and families. The Early Childhood Education and Care Advisory Council fulfills a federal requirement for states to establish a state advisory early childhood council.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) in 2020, making New Mexico among the first states to consolidate all early childhood programs and services under a single cabinet-level agency. Under this administration, ECECD has led the nation by expanding access to free New Mexico PreK, overseeing the largest investment in early childhood infrastructure in state history, and implementing cost-free child care for a majority of New Mexico families. Learn more about how ECECD supports children, families, and the early childhood professionals that serve our communities at nmececd.org, or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram as @NewMexicoECECD.