New Mexico’s Free-Child-Care Gamble
New Mexico’s Free-Child-Care Gamble
New Mexico’s governor recently announced that the state will be the first in the country to offer universal free child care, a development proponents see as crucial social infrastructure. However, this victory lap may be premature, as the state faces significant hurdles in implementation, including a shortage of educators and funding uncertainties. Despite its current generous income-based program covering 85% of children, only a fraction actually receive benefits due to a lack of available slots and providers' reluctance to accept state vouchers. The new universal policy will require hiring thousands more educators and substantial, ongoing legislative funding, which is not guaranteed. The success of this ambitious gamble, and its ability to avoid the pitfalls seen in Quebec’s past universal child-care program, will shape national views on the viability of such policies.
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this article proposes one "gamble" as program's ability to inspire other states to follow or warn them off.
i guess that's possible. reading about the story of quebec and then learning about other states trying, it seems there is another path: evolve and try new things.
in the short term, some people will be helped. how many, by how much and will the program be renewed are the true questions that will be answered with time.
on one hand, this is heartening to see such programs emerge. especially in a time of shrinking government and a lack of true engagement with improving affordability for all.
on the other hand, a tightly focused social engagement program, with a short leash, a heavy dose of paperworks and a number of well intentioned constraints leads to all sorts of unintended consequences.
simplicity, cash and randomization could be useful levers if experiments like these continue to not deliver 5-10 years later.
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