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Early Childhood Education Bill Headed to Voters This November
By Andrea Serrano
On November 8th, among all the important races on the ballot, New Mexicans will have the opportunity to pass Constitutional Amendment #1, creating a permanent school fund for early education and K-12. When this passes, New Mexico will be the first state that makes early education a constitutional right for all children age 0-5. Not only will this transform our families for generations to come, it will be a boost our state needs right now.
As a 12th generation Nuevo Mexicana, I come from a big family where my parents, grandma, aunties and sisters all had a hand in raising me, teaching me and getting me ready for kindergarten. I was lucky because this network was readily available, and with the ballot measure for early education, we, Democratic voters, have an opportunity to be an extended network and good neighbors to families across our state.
Early education is necessary for families - not only to provide a safe place for children to go to while their parents and caretakers go to work, but a place where they learn to read, count, recognize their colors, and learn from dedicated early educators who have devoted their lives to teaching young children.
The amendment will create a permanent and sustainable fund from the Land Grant Permanent Fund (currently valued at $26 billion) for early education as well as increased funding for K-12 education. This will allocate roughly $150 million for early education and $100 million to K-12 education. The funds for early education, which will be administered by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, will ensure that families will be able to afford early education for their children and early educators are paid professional wages. The best part is that this measure will not raise taxes.
Caring for children and families is a New Mexican value, and it’s a core Democratic value. Be sure and vote the back of the ballot in November and vote YES for Constitutional Amendment #1.
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