On November 1, 2025, New Mexico will become the first state in the nation to guarantee universal free childcare.
getty
On November 1, 2025, New Mexico will become the first state in the nation to guarantee universal free childcare.
The announcement from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham landed with both excitement and skepticism. For families, the prospect of saving an estimated $12,000 per child per year feels life-changing. For policymakers, it raises questions about funding, workforce shortages, and whether other states can follow a similar path.
The state’s plan eliminates co-pays and removes income thresholds, making childcare free for all families. It builds on the Land Grant Permanent Fund, a constitutional amendment approved in 2022 that dedicates ongoing revenue to early childhood education. That funding stream is unique, and it has allowed New Mexico to move faster than most states. But execution is the true test.
According to the New Mexico fact sheet, nearly 137,500 children under five, and 60% of them with all available parents in the workforce, the demand is immense.
Why Childcare Affordability Is a Breaking Point
Also stated in the New Mexico fact sheet, childcare costs have outpaced inflation, leaving parents with impossible trade-offs. Nationally, the average price reached $13,128 in 2024.
In New Mexico, families pay about $13,521 for center-based infant care and $11,564 for home-based. That translates into 14% of a married couple’s income, and a crushing 44% of a single parent’s.
Mary Ignatius, Executive Director of Parent Voices CA, stated that families in her network earn modest wages that barely cover essential expenses. “At $20 an hour, they’re making close to $41,000 a year before taxes. Without childcare assistance, more than half of their paycheck could go to paying for one infant,” she explained. She added that eliminating fees allows families to pay off debt, improve housing stability, and even build savings. “Knowing you can drop your child off at a program they love, where providers are paid thriving wages and benefits, is transformative for kids, parents, the workforce, and society.”
It’s not just low-income families who feel the pinch. Dr. Noa Gafni of Columbia University emphasized that middle-class families often see post-tax childcare costs cancel out an entire income. “Childcare is so expensive that it leads to complex decisions on how much, and often, whether to work,” she said. “Universal childcare is not a silver bullet, but it’s a fantastic step if we want to encourage women’s labor force participation.”
Building Supply, Not Just Access to Childcare
As of 2024, New Mexico had 768 licensed childcare centers and 265 licensed home providers. That number has grown since 2023, but it still falls far short of meeting demand. Only 31% of children under five are served by existing federal and state programs.
getty
The question is whether families will actually find a slot. As of 2024, New Mexico had 768 licensed childcare centers and 265 licensed home providers. That number has grown since 2023, but it still falls far short of meeting demand. Only 31% of children under five are served by existing federal and state programs.
Anne Hedgepeth, Senior Vice President of Policy & Research at Child Care Aware of America, praised New Mexico’s comprehensive strategy. “They are planning on improving many other aspects of the childcare system, from building supply and improving recruitment, to increasing provider wages and ensuring reimbursement rates rise to reflect the true cost of care,” she said. Hedgepeth warned that as more families seek childcare, states must watch carefully to ensure supply keeps up. “Further increases in funding will be critically important to sustain these programs. We will need to pay close attention to supply and demand, particularly if families continue to struggle to find care in spite of it being more affordable.”
Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, Vice President of National Policy at Start Early, called the initiative “generation-changing.” She noted that the plan includes loans to build and renovate facilities, along with efforts to raise wages. “Affordability has been one of the biggest burdens on families. Now, families won’t have to choose between quality care for their children and going back to work or school,” she said.
The Workforce Crisis and Childcare
Childcare is only as strong as the people providing it. Yet, the industry is plagued by low wages and high turnover rates. Staff shortages remain one of New Mexico’s biggest hurdles.
“Staff shortages result primarily from low wages and poor working conditions,” said Eric Kingsley, Partner at Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers. “If universal childcare has funding but no substantial wage increases, many providers will not be able to keep qualified staff, and families will experience continued access to a compromised service.” Still, he sees potential. With guaranteed funding, he argued, providers could finally offer stability, wages, and benefits that build a professional workforce and reduce turnover.
Stephanie Fornaro, founder of the national nanny agency Hello Nanny!, linked the problem to basic economics. “There aren’t enough childcare workers as it is, largely due to the low compensation in the industry. Caregiving is undervalued, and workers are significantly underpaid, which deters interest,” she said. She warned that reimbursement rates may not fully cover costs, meaning programs could still face shortfalls unless families or the state bridge the gap.
The stakes are high. Childcare challenges cost the state an estimated $586 million annually in lost earnings and productivity. That figure makes the economic case for solving workforce shortages even stronger.
What Families Stand to Gain With Universal Childcare
For parents, universal childcare is about freedom.
getty
For parents, universal childcare is about freedom. Ignatius shared stories of families who used savings from fee waivers to pay off credit card debt, move into safer neighborhoods, and improve their children’s futures. That impact ripples through households in ways policymakers sometimes overlook.
Lindsey Baker, Director of Advocacy and Operations at SouthSide Early Childhood Center, highlighted how reimbursement shortfalls affect quality. “The amount we receive never comes close to covering the cost of high-quality care and the wages needed to retain staff,” she said. She argued that universal childcare for children from zero to five would relieve immense financial burdens and allow parents to stay in the workforce. “It would have ripple effects across the entire economy as a whole.”
Employers, Childcare and the Broader Economy
The impact is not limited to households. Employers have long struggled with absenteeism and turnover linked to childcare breakdowns. Deborah Hanus, CEO and Co-Founder at Sparrow, pointed out that state childcare funding opens the labor market. “When parents of young children can access affordable care, their skills are unlocked for employers across industries,” she said. Hanus called childcare an economic issue, not just a social one, and noted that without action, women will continue to step out of the workforce. Research suggests that universal childcare could add up to $1 trillion to U.S. GDP.
Sanchez Fuentes echoed that stability in wages and benefits could strengthen the workforce pipeline, benefiting employers across sectors. The message is clear: universal childcare is a policy that resonates in boardrooms as much as it does in living rooms.
Critics and Concerns on Free Childcare
No sweeping policy is without debate. Critics argue that making childcare free for all means taxpayers subsidize care for wealthy families who can afford it.
getty
No sweeping policy is without debate. Critics argue that making childcare free for all means taxpayers subsidize care for wealthy families who can afford it. Others point out that while New Mexico has a unique funding stream, other states may lack such a mechanism. The Land Grant Permanent Fund sets New Mexico apart; most states would need to rely on general revenue or new taxes, which are harder to sustain.
There’s also the quality debate. Lessons from Quebec’s universal childcare model show that access without quality controls can yield mixed outcomes, especially for infants and toddlers. Some have emphasized that ratios, training, and coaching matter as much as the number of slots created. For New Mexico, maintaining strong standards will be just as important as cutting costs.
What Other States Can Learn About Childcare
So what does this mean beyond New Mexico? First, it proves that universality simplifies access. Families no longer face income cliffs, confusing eligibility rules, or stigma. That lesson could be adopted anywhere. Second, it highlights the importance of workforce investments. Wage floors, scholarships, and facility funds aren’t optional; they’re central to making universality real.
For Hedgepeth, the path forward is clear: “This comprehensive approach is crucial for other states to consider as they determine next steps for supporting childcare in their states.”
A National Inflection Point in Childcare
Universal childcare in New Mexico may not be easily replicated everywhere. But it demonstrates what happens when a state commits to both affordability and quality. Families gain stability, employers gain access to talent, and the broader economy reduces costly inefficiencies.
The challenges of funding, workforce shortages, and quality safeguards remain. Yet as Sanchez Fuentes reminded, consistent advocacy can move the needle. “This announcement is exciting and demonstrates that change is possible,” she said.
For families across the country, the hope is that New Mexico isn’t an outlier, but a signal of what’s possible when childcare is treated as both an economic driver and a family necessity.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferpalumbo/2025/09/10/free-childcare-for-all-in-new-mexico-savings-strains-and-takeaways/
