NMAEYC in the Press

Stay up to date with our press releases and interviews.

The NMAEYC Calls on NM State Leaders to Provide Permanent Funds for Early Childhood Care

Quality childcare is vital to economic strength and stability

RESILIENCE: NMAEYC Annual Conference on Early Childhood Education Back in Person for 2022!

NM’s Early Childhood Workers Are Essential Frontline Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic and Ensuing Fiscal Recovery

The New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children (NMAEYC) recently disseminated a survey on the impact of COVID-19 on New Mexico’s early childhood learning and care workforce. Over 500 respondents, from 27 of New Mexico’s 33 counties, overwhelmingly agreed that early childhood professionals continue to demonstrate their essential community value to New Mexico’s businesses during the COVID 19 pandemic. The survey data also underscored three areas of immediate concern:

• uncertainty around centers/schools reopening and returning to work. 
• The availability of no-cost professional development opportunities for New Mexico’s early childhood workforce in order to support providers with a framework for reopening.
• Financial support and restructuring of New Mexico’s early childhood learning and care system to provide quality early childhood services. 

New Mexico’s long-term economy is dependent on an early childhood learning and care system that works for every family. Given the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic on New Mexico’s economy, the Governor and NM’s legislators must ensure that a robust early childhood learning and care system is available to parents as they return to work and restart our economy.

In addition to economic reforms that diversify the economy beyond oil and gas, legislators need to provide financial relief to the early childhood learning and care system. We respectfully ask that New Mexico’s economic reformers consider the following recommendations: 

• pass the Early Childhood Constitutional Amendment, Permanent Funds for Early Childhood, HJR 1, to provide reliable and sustainable funding for this crucial sector of our state.   
• Ensure state funding that will allow the early childhood learning and care system to provide pay and benefits to staff, cover fixed costs, and continue expansion of services statewide.  
• Continue support for centers that remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, including financial support for lost revenue and essential COVID 19 supplies and protective equipment.  

It is time to recognize the foundational role that the early childhood workforce plays in the fiscal well-being of our entire state. It is time to recognize the importance of early childhood learning and care for every family in New Mexico. It is time to fully and appropriately fund early childhood learning and care.

NMAEYC Awarded Funding To Help Serve Early Childhood Educators And All Young Children In NM

The New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children (NMAEYC), the states leading advocate for children and early childhood educators, has received funding that supports their work to promote quality care and education for the well-being of all young children.

“The work NMAEYC does is not only our mission but it is our priority for every young child and our early childhood professionals in every community in our state,” said Alicia Borrego, the executive director of the NMAEYC. “Working on behalf of early childhood is weaved within our daily work, our programs, and our advocacy.”

NMAEYC has been awarded a $150,000 general operating grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, helping us achieve our overall mission and benefit all early childhood educators throughout New Mexico.

NMAEYC envisions a respected, educated, and professional workforce that provides developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive, high quality early care, education, and resources.

“It is an honor and critical time to lead NMAEYC and early childhood initiatives in our great state of New Mexico. I say this with a sense of urgency, a sense of excitement, and a sense of community. And with the generous support from the Kellogg Foundation, we will make a long  lasting impact for the communities in New Mexico.”

NMAEYC Annual Conference Focuses on Early Childhood Education

ECECD Cabinet Secretary Groginsky to Address Educators

Join the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children (NMAEYC) on March 6-7, 2020 at the Albuquerque Convention Center for the largest conference in New Mexico for Early Childhood Professionals! This conference is designed to help Early Childhood professionals learn skills to help grow New Mexico’s next generation, build relationships with other professionals in the field, and expand their network statewide. New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky will address the largest gathering of early educators in the state during the general session on Saturday. 

Secretary Groginsky is pleased to be part of the NMAEYC Annual Conference. “Over the past year, New Mexico has created a new cabinet-level department to coordinate prenatal-to-five services and appropriated $320 million for the Early Childhood Trust Fund. The Governor and the Legislature know that early childhood is crucial for kids’ development – and it’s up to us in the EC community to deliver for our young people and families. Among other things, that means loving care from well-trained, well-paid early childhood professionals.” The secretary will speak at approximately 11:15 am on Saturday in the Kiva Auditorium in downtown Albuquerque.

Along with over 50 seminars and sessions centering on early childhood educational practices, there will also be an amazing and inspiring Exhibit Hall filled with eye-popping, hands-on activities, poster sessions, resources & tools to empower educators, and door prizes. 

NMAEYC Executive Director Alicia Borrego says, “The quality of early childhood care is profoundly important because it has a life-long impact, and that is why we are so proud to host this important conference.”

The New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children promotes quality care and education for the well-being of ALL young children, birth to eight, through professional development and advocacy. We work to develop and nurture a more respected, educated, and professional workforce that provides developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive, high quality, early care, education and services for the children of New Mexico.

February 12, 2020 – All Are Welcome Here! NMAEYC Annual Conference Focuses on Early Childhood Education

Helping Professionals Make an Impact for ALL New Mexico Children

Join the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children (NMAEYC) on March 6-7, 2020 at the Albuquerque Convention Center for the largest conference in New Mexico for Early Childhood Professionals! This conference is designed to help Early Childhood professionals learn skills to help grow New Mexico’s next generation, build relationships with other professionals in the field, and expand their network statewide. Visit nmaeyc.org for more details and to register for the conference.

The NMAEYC Annual Conference will have over 50 seminars and sessions ranging from hour-long to day-long that center on early childhood educational practices. Professional development sessions will grow expertise, provide contact hours and CEUs, and immerse participants in cutting edge content.

An amazing and inspiring Exhibit Hall is filled with eye-popping hands-on activities, poster sessions, resources& tools to empower educators, and door prizes.

This year’s keynote address will be given by Suzanne Kaufman, New York Times bestselling illustrator of “All Are Welcome.”

NMAEYC Executive Director Alicia Borrego says, “The quality of early childhood care is profoundly
important because it has a life-long impact, and that is why we are so proud to host this important conference.”

The New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children promotes quality care and education for the well-being of ALL young children, birth to eight, through professional development and advocacy. We work to develop and nurture a more respected, educated, and professional workforce that provides developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive, high quality, early care, education and services for the children of New Mexico.