Santa Fe, NM — Today, the state of New Mexico launched its Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD). Elizabeth Groginsky will serve as the agency’s inaugural secretary. She comes to the state from Washington D.C. where she previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning. In response, Katie Hamm, vice president for Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Today, New Mexico has taken an important step in creating the new Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), which will oversee the state’s prenatal-to-five services as well as a range of federal programs. New Mexico is just the fourth state in the country to create a state agency dedicated to improving support for young children. With so many families hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout—particularly Black, Hispanic, and Native communities—it is especially important for states to focus on aligning support for young children. I commend Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), the New Mexico Legislature, and Secretary Groginsky for taking this critical step, and I look forward to working with them as leaders in early childhood policy.
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