PreK and Head Start Pay Parity

Who:
If you work in a Head Start program or if you work with children enrolled in the New Mexico PreK program for 3- and 4-year-olds, this one might be for you! Specifically, this program is for lead and assistant teachers in Head Start and PreK classrooms, or for program directors.

What:
The parity program is designed to boost the earnings of these early childhood professionals, to bring their pay closer to parity, or equality, with teachers in public schools who have similar experience and education. For example, for a PreK lead teacher with a bachelor’s degree and three or more years of experience, the salary level for the parity program is $66,000 per year. If you have that level of education and experience and earn less than that, the parity program will pay you the difference! So, if you earn $56,000 per year as a lead teacher, you could receive an extra $10,000 per year, paid in monthly installments, to bring you up to the parity level. To see the salary level for your education and experience, check out the PreK details here and the Head Start details here. 

Why:
To earn more money! And you deserve it. Research consistently shows that the early years are an essential period for brain development. Positive learning experiences in those early years can have long-lasting impacts on children’s success. Despite the importance of the work, early childhood professionals often are not paid as well as professionals in other fields. New Mexico’s programs aim to help change that.

Infant and Toddler Pay Parity – NEW THIS YEAR!

Who:
Check this one out if you work in a licensed child care setting with infants and toddlers (birth until they turn 3) and your child care program serves at least one child whose care is funded by Child Care Assistance. Specifically, this program is for lead and assistant teachers in infant/toddler classrooms, or for directors of qualifying programs.

What:
The parity program is designed to boost the earnings of these early childhood professionals, to bring them closer to parity, or equality, with teachers in public school settings who have similar experience and education. For example, for an infant/toddler educator with a bachelor’s degree and three or more years of experience, the salary level for the parity program is $66,000 per year. If you have that level of education and experience and earn less than that, the parity program will pay you the difference! So, if you currently earn $56,000 per year, you could receive an extra $10,000 per year, paid in monthly installments, to bring you up to the parity level. To see the salary level for your education and experience, look here.

Why:
To earn more money! And you deserve it. Research consistently shows that the early years are an essential period for brain development. Positive learning experiences in those early years can have long-lasting impacts on children’s success. Despite the importance of the work, early childhood professionals often are not paid as well as professionals in other fields. This is especially true for the educators who teach and care for our very youngest children. New Mexico’s programs aim to help change that.

Wage Supplement Program

Who:
This program is for early childhood professionals in nearly any New Mexico setting (child care, PreK, home visiting, Head Start, Early Intervention and more!) who earn less than $18 per hour and work at least 20 hours per week. You must work with children age birth to 5, and must have at least three credit hours of early childhood coursework, or a Child Development Associate (CDA). Don’t yet have three credit hours? Include a copy of your school schedule along with your application.  You can receive the wage supplement once you complete your class.

What:
The wage supplement program provides payments every six months, which increase depending on your education level. The amounts increase as you earn college credits, so you can see gains in your supplement amount before you even finish your degree. See the detailed payment table here, and more details about how it works here.

Why:
To earn more money! (There’s a pattern here). Research consistently shows that the early years are an essential period for brain development. Positive learning experiences in those early years can have long-lasting impacts on children’s success. Despite the importance of the work, early childhood professionals often are not paid as well as professionals in other fields. New Mexico’s programs aim to help change that.

ECECD Scholarship

Who:
Early childhood professionals working in most types of settings (child care, PreK, home visiting, Head Start, Early Intervention and more!), who work at least 20 hours per week and are enrolled in an approved degree or certificate program relevant to their career (the approved program list is here). As of January 2025, the program is limited to students pursuing associate and bachelor’s degrees, and does not fund courses toward mater’s or doctoral degrees.

What:
The ECECD scholarship will pay 100% of a student’s tuition and fees, and the full cost of all textbooks for approved classes. Students are encouraged but not required to first apply for other forms of financial aid, including the Opportunity Scholarship, and to take at least six credit hours per year. Check out the details here.

Why:
To gain new training and expertise for your career, all without having to pay out-of-pocket or go into debt. And also, to earn more money! The Wage Supplement and Parity programs all pay higher rates to professionals with more education and experience. This scholarship means you can work toward those higher pay rates, at no expense to you.

One-Time Bilingual Incentive

Who:
Early childhood professionals who speak two or more languages, this one is for you! Professionals can work in nearly any setting (child care, PreK, home visiting, Head Start, Early Intervention and more!) as long as they work at least 20 hours per week and work with children birth to 5.

What:
A one-time payment of $1,500 will be provided to these professionals. Check out the details here.

Why:
To earn some money! Multilingual professionals bring an extremely valuable skill to their work. New Mexico’s children and families speak many languages, and early childhood professionals who can communicate in those languages are especially well positioned to connect with and successfully serve families and children. This program is one way New Mexico recognizes the value of those skills.

CDA Assessment Vouchers

Who:
Check this program out if you are getting ready to take the CDA Assessment as the final step of earning your Child Development Associate. Early childhood professionals in nearly any setting can qualify, as long as they work at least 20 hours per week and work with children birth to 5. 

What:
The price to initially apply for a CDA Assessment is steep—$425. This program covers that cost for New Mexico early childhood professionals through a voucher system. Once you are ready to take the CDA Exam, you can apply for the voucher program and you’ll get a special code that will let you skip the payment step. The program pays for initial applications (not retakes or renewals). The voucher is only good for six months, so don’t apply for this one until you’re actually ready for it.

Why:
To save some money! As an early childhood professional, getting new credentials and degrees already takes time and effort. It shouldn’t also cost you money. This voucher program is part of New Mexico’s effort to make sure all early childhood professionals can continue their educations without cost barriers getting in their way.