WNMU Looks to Expand Access to Early Childhood Care and Education

In New Mexico, there are only enough licensed child care spots for about 50% of infants and toddlers whose parents work, according to the NM Early Childhood Education and Care Department, suggesting an urgent need to increase capacity in early childhood care and education. Western New Mexico University aspires to do its part to reduce the need by constructing a new Child Development Center using funding from this year's General Obligation Bond 3.

The need for this expansion becomes clear when one considers that in the first few years of life, over 1 million new neural connections develop every second, a pace never repeated again, according to UNICEF. Quality early childhood care and education while these neural connections are forming can impact the entire trajectory of a child's life.

One of the crucial effects of quality care and education in early childhood is that it improves children's foundational skills and school readiness, according to Cynthia Martinez, Dean of the WNMU College of Education and Director of the New Mexico Center of Excellence for Early Childhood Education. "Early childhood education introduces children to basic literacy and numeracy skills," Martinez noted. "These early experiences shape a child's readiness for school. Research shows that quality early childhood care and education equip children with critical social and emotional skills, fostering their ability to interact positively with peers and teachers."

It also lays the groundwork for future educational success. Statistical outcomes show a correlation between early education and higher graduation rates, said Martinez. According to the First Five Years Fund, a nonprofit organization that advocates for affordable access to quality child care and early learning programs, attending early learning programs is linked to a 6% increase in high school graduation and a 5.5% increase in attendance at a four-year college.

There is also a financial impact to these programs. According to Martinez, those who receive quality early education are more likely to pursue higher education and secure better-paying jobs. Individuals with bachelor's degrees earn about 86% more on average than those with only a high school diploma, according to the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities.

In addition, evidence suggests a connection between education and long-term health, said Martinez. "Individuals with higher educational attainment tend to have better health outcomes," she said. "Early education may instill lifelong healthy habits as well as provide access to resources and knowledge about health to young children and their families."

Similarly, quality early childhood care and education affects children's emotional and social development. "Nurturing environments found in early education and care programs help develop children's self-esteem, resilience, and interpersonal skills, which are crucial for navigating life's challenges," said Martinez.

It is not just the individual that benefits from early childhood education, said Martinez; there are community and societal benefits, as well. "Access to quality early education can reduce societal costs related to crime, poverty, and health care," she noted.

Given the profound effects of early childhood services, it is no wonder that New Mexicans voted overwhelmingly in 2022 to amend the state constitution to direct more funding to early childhood care and education. This fall, voters will once again have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Grant County children and their families by voting on Education Bond 3, which will not increase tax rates but will direct $9M to WNMU to double its capacity for providing care and education to infants and toddlers.