Can Childcare Really Be Universally Free?

New Mexico seems to have found a giant chest of gold in the desert and decided to use it for nap times...and parents across the state rejoiced! What are we talking about? Well, it's a pretty big deal, and could set the trend for the rest of the country (if it works). Let's check it out!

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Here are Five Fast Facts on free childcare for everyone:

1. 😁 Free for Everyone - Starting November 1st, New Mexico will offer free child care regardless of family income. Before this change, only families making up to 400% of the federal poverty level were eligible. Now there are no more “you make too much” rules.

2. 🛢️ Black Gold - The money is coming from the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund, which is funded largely by oil and gas taxes. This year alone, the Early Childhood Education and Care Department received $113 million, pushing its budget up to over $1 billion, half of which will pay for childcare. 

3. 💰 Huge Savings - Families will save about $12,000 per child each year on child care. That’s like getting a major coupon for everyday life.

4. 👀 But Wait, There's More - To attract and keep workers, New Mexico will also reward child care centers that pay decent wages (entry-level base around $18/hr) when they show high quality or excellence.

5. 🏠 Money, Buildings, And Workers Needed, Oh My - The state is boosting child care center funding, expanding and renovating facilities, and expects to build or upgrade lots of child care centers to handle the demand. Also, tens of millions go into planning to make sure there are enough spots.

🔥Bottom line: In short, New Mexico is doing the thing that parents everywhere dream of: making child care free for everyone. It’s going to save families big money, help parents work without worrying about daycare costs, and maybe even make the playground conversations more fun (because fewer parents are scrambling to pay). It’s ambitious, expensive, and admittedly also kind of awesome. If it works, lots of other states might take a peek to see how they did it. One might responsibly ask what happens when New Mexico runs out of other people's money to spend...or oil.  But that's apparently a problem to deal with in the future, so for now, enjoy it!

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