LeadStory

Al Jazeera

New Mexico launches free childcare for families

Al Jazeera · 1 month ago
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
1 month ago

New Mexico has some of the highest child care costs in the world - averaging about 12 thousand dollars per child, each year. That means many Americans choose to leave the workforce to look after their children, or - decide not to have kids.

Breakdown
  • New Mexico now covers full childcare tuition for families, with some costs reaching $4,000 per month. 21s
  • The program is funded by the state's investment earnings from oil revenues. 1m 3s
  • Existing childcare facilities are at capacity, with long waitlists for spots. 1m 13s
  • The state is offering loans to build more centers and wage boosts to recruit additional childcare workers. 1m 37s
  • Officials aim to expand capacity to provide free care for every child within a year, potentially creating a model for other states. 2m 2s