OPINION: The country is watching New Mexico roll out universal child care

All eyes are on New Mexico as it leads the way as the first state in the nation to offer universal child care. It’s an ambitious, admirable move — one that other states will be watching closely.

Across most of the country, the annual cost of child care exceeds tuition at a four-year public university. In New Mexico, it’s nearly double. For working families, free child care represents a lifeline. Under this new program, families will save an average of $12,000 per year. But the success of universal child care won’t depend on how quickly the policy is enacted, it will depend on how carefully it’s implemented.

As the parent of three, a former superintendent for nearly a decade, and someone who has dedicated their career to the intersection of education, nonprofit leadership and private sector innovation, I’ve seen what happens when well-intentioned education policies move faster than the systems and people that must sustain them. When execution is rushed, families and educators suffer.

New Mexico’s new initiative will require an estimated 5,000 new early childhood educators to meet demand. Recruiting and supporting that many professionals will take time, investment and coordination. The state can’t simply “jump” — it must build this foundation carefully, in partnership with trusted, high-quality organizations that can deliver the kind of child care that any parent would feel comfortable enrolling their child in. Quality matters.

Child care isn’t just about providing a safe space for kids while parents work; it’s about helping children learn, explore and grow through enriching experiences that complement what happens in school. Quality programs also lift local communities by providing meaningful jobs, supporting family stability and building long-term trust between educators and parents.

When I was CEO of PDK International, a nonprofit that supports educators, we created Educators Rising, the first career education program intended to inspire high school students to become teachers. With generous foundation support and the hard work of local educators and leaders, we developed a bilingual iteration grounded in New Mexico. That’s the kind of locally driven partnership this new universal child care effort needs: One that respects New Mexico’s unique identity while bringing in proven models and national expertise to make implementation smoother.

As a former superintendent, I know what a difference the right partnerships can make. In Montgomery County, Maryland, I helped launch a new makerspace for kids. The founder and her team were passionate and creative educators who wanted to engage young students — especially those without many family resources — in rich STEM experiences that inspired their curiosity. What began as an idea flourished into beloved after school and summer programs that became part of the fabric of our schools and community. We also worked with local partners to bring financial literacy, musical symphony and theater programs into our classrooms.

Without the expertise of our trusted community partners, we wouldn’t have been able to offer these experiences. When families and educators have reliable, high-quality programs, everyone benefits — students thrive, parents can work with peace of mind and schools can focus on teaching and learning.

Across the country right now, there is a battle underway among child care and after school providers. It’s the low-cost programs versus the ones that actually provide enrichment, a learning environment and real results.

New Mexico has the chance to show the rest of the country what a thoughtful, inclusive approach to universal child care looks like. But that will only happen if leaders ensure to select options that inspire families and don’t feel forced. The right partners, working hand in hand with local educators and families, can make universal child care not just possible, but sustainable for generations to come.