The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) oversees the New Mexico Prekindergarten (PreK) program, a high-quality program that is available to all families with eligible 3- and 4-year-old children, regardless of income. The New Mexico PreK program provides voluntary, quality PreK to support children’s development readiness and builds capacity of early childhood programs in communities. PreK program funding is awarded through a competitive grant opportunity and grantees are monitored for compliance with New Mexico PreK Standards by ECECD.

The NM PreK program is a key part of the state’s early childhood education and care system, providing a high-quality, voluntary PreK experiences to preschool-aged children regardless of income. In FY25, the New Mexico Legislature appropriated and additional $17M to ECECD to enhance and expand the NM PreK program. ECECD is seeking applications from eligible providers to expand, enhance, or create new PreK slots and classrooms statewide, especially in areas where there is a lack of high-quality PreK for children and families.

The NM PreK Grant is a competitive, multi-year grant for tribal, licensed child care centers, licensed child care homes, Head Start, school districts, and/or charter schools to offer the NM PreK program according to the established New Mexico PreK Standards. ECECD awards PreK Grants for four years contingent upon available funding and the grantees continued compliance with the NM PreK standards.