Oklahoma And New Mexico Expand Child Care Access With New Funding

On January 20, 2026, a trio of developments underscored the growing national commitment to early childhood education and child care, with Oklahoma, New Mexico, and the federal government each unveiling significant new investments and policy shifts. These moves, which come amid persistent challenges in workforce stability, access, and educational outcomes, signal a broad, bipartisan recognition of the foundational role early learning plays for families and the nation’s future.

In Oklahoma, the child care crisis has reached a critical point, with over half of the state’s residents—about 55%—living in what experts call “child care deserts.” The situation is even more dire in rural areas, where that figure jumps to 68%, according to KFOR. Recognizing these urgent needs, the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) secured a $14.7 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The state itself matched some of the funding, demonstrating a shared commitment to tackling the issue head-on.

Jon Trudgeon, OPSR’s director of communications, didn’t mince words: “Oklahoma is experiencing a childcare crisis.” He explained that stabilizing the workforce is a top priority, given that child care workers in the state earn a paltry average wage of $11.61 per hour. “It’s plagued with high turnover,” Trudgeon said, a challenge that threatens the stability of care for thousands of families.

To address this, the grant will fund regional business academies aimed at helping child care centers improve their operational management—an often overlooked but vital part of keeping doors open and workers on staff. Another key initiative is the expansion of the Oklahoma Strong Start program, which provides child care support for those working in the industry. This move acknowledges a reality many providers face: the struggle to afford care for their own children while caring for others’.

But the state isn’t stopping there. The new funding also seeks to smooth the transition from early child care into pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. OPSR will partner with the State Department of Education and teachers across Oklahoma to develop a more robust transitions framework. “We’re going to be working with the State Department of Education with pre-K and kindergarten teachers throughout the state of Oklahoma, along with the child care community, to hopefully build a better transitions framework, so that that handoff happens more smoothly,” Trudgeon told KFOR.

Underlying these efforts is a sense of urgency about educational outcomes. Oklahoma has recently been ranked 50th in the nation for education, with particularly poor third-grade reading results. Trudgeon emphasized, “We believe that if you want to improve third-grade reading results, you need to improve early literacy in the zero to five range.” OPSR is also working to streamline data collection, aiming to build better tools so families can access the resources they need, when they need them.

Meanwhile, in neighboring New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham used her eighth and final State of the State address to lay out an ambitious vision for the future—one where universal child care, aggressive climate action, and public safety reforms are cornerstones. According to NM Political Report, her agenda includes a $160 million recurring increase for universal child care. She proudly highlighted that New Mexico is the first state to make child care a constitutional right, noting, “What we’ve built over the last seven years isn’t just a list of accomplishments. It’s a blueprint.”

Since November 2025, 10,000 additional children have enrolled in New Mexico’s child care programs—a testament to the demand and the state’s capacity to deliver. But the governor’s education proposals don’t stop at early learning. She’s calling for a ban on cell phones in K-12 schools, stricter literacy and math requirements, and a move toward a 180-day school year, all designed to boost proficiency rates that, while improving, remain a concern.

Public safety is another pillar of her agenda. Lujan Grisham called for an assault weapons ban, juvenile justice reform, and stricter penalties for felons with firearms. She also proposed pretrial detention for violent crime suspects and reforms to civil commitment laws to better address mental illness and addiction. “Nobody needs a body-shredding weapon for hunting or self-defense,” she stated bluntly.

The governor’s economic and infrastructure proposals are equally sweeping: $150 million in tax credits for quantum computing and fusion energy, a $1.5 billion transportation bond, $110 million for housing and homelessness, and zoning reforms to speed up new home construction. On health care, she’s pushing to eliminate the gross receipts tax on medical services, reform medical malpractice laws, and double enrollment at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine to address chronic provider shortages.

Climate action remains central to New Mexico’s policy blueprint. Lujan Grisham urged lawmakers to codify the state’s Climate Action Plan, aiming to reduce pollution by 45% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. “New Mexico led, and the nation followed,” she said, referencing the state’s pioneering methane rules and clean energy targets.

Nationally, the U.S. House of Representatives released the FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations package, which further boosts federal investment in early learning and care. The package includes $8.831 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program—an $85 million increase—and $12.357 billion for Head Start, also up by $85 million. The Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program will receive $315 million.

Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund, welcomed the news, emphasizing the importance of stable funding for families and providers: “We are pleased to see the House, in partnership with the Senate, reaching agreement on legislation that will provide increased funding for child care and early learning programs for FY26. These investments ensure families and providers can plan ahead, maintain programs, and give children the consistent, high-quality care they need.” She added, “Federal child care and early learning programs have a proven track record in strengthening families, fostering child development, and fueling our economy.”

Rittling also praised the bipartisan support for these increases, calling on Congress to maintain momentum and continue backing these vital programs. The funding certainty, she noted, is crucial for parents who rely on child care to remain in the workforce and for providers who need stability to offer consistent, high-quality care.

All told, the developments in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and at the federal level reflect a convergence of local and national priorities. From stabilizing the workforce and improving transitions in Oklahoma, to making child care a constitutional right and pushing for universal access in New Mexico, to bipartisan funding increases in Washington, the message is clear: early childhood education is being recognized as a linchpin of economic stability, educational achievement, and family well-being.

As states and the federal government continue to invest, experiment, and reform, the hope is that these efforts will not only address today’s crises but lay the groundwork for a more equitable and prosperous future—one where every child has the chance to thrive from the very start.