In 1992, the first statewide early care and education stakeholder meeting was held to establish a professional development system in New Mexico. At its inception, the New Mexico Early Childhood Higher Education Task Force (NMECHETF) aimed to ensure a statewide common catalog of courses, and successful articulation of two-year and four-year institutional programming. Since, the NMECHETF has worked to ensure, statewide, that higher education programs in early care and education are competency-based, rigorous, and equitable. This has included creation and revision of standards related to producing highly qualified educators, creating new teaching and learning courses in early childhood, and approving state-specific licensing requirements. Today, the NMECHETF works in partnership with multiple state entities to continue to promote and support an equitable early childhood professional landscape in New Mexico.
What are the responsibilities of the NMECHETF?
- To continuously evaluate the effectiveness of early care and education licensure and preparatory programs at New Mexico institutions of higher education.
- To respond to emerging issues, trends, and problems affecting the care and education of New Mexico’s young children and their families with innovation and modifications of early care and education licensure and preparatory programs at New Mexico institutions of higher education.
- To advocate for supportive resources that increase the diversity of New Mexico’s early care and education workforce.
- To promote collaboration between Task Force members and entities responsible for early care and education across New Mexico.
Who is the NMECHETF?
Membership is solely related to faculty, staff, and stakeholders that oversee or support higher education licensure and preparatory programs for early care and early childhood providers of New Mexico. Our Member Institutions currently include:
- A:shiwi College
- Central New Mexico Community College
- Clovis Community College
- Diné College
- Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU)
- ENMU – Ruidoso
- Luna Community College
- Mesalands Community College
- New Mexico Highlands University
- New Mexico Junior College
- Navajo Technical University
- New Mexico State University (NMSU)
- NMSU – Alamogordo
- NMSU – Doña Ana Community College
- NMSU – Grants
- Northern New Mexico College
- San Juan College
- Santa Fe Community College
- Southeast New Mexico College
- Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
- University of New Mexico (UNM)
- UNM, Taos Branch
- UNM, Gallup Branch
- UNM, Valencia Branch
- University of the Southwest
- Western New Mexico University (WNMU)
What is the NMECHETF working on?
In 2024-2025 , the NMECHETF completed five specific tasks to improve the early childhood professional landscape.
- Task 1 New Mexico Common Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals – Alignment and Revision Partnership
- Task 2 Opportunities and offerings for early childhood professional advancement and articulation
- Task 3 Early Learning Standards Partnership
- Task 4 Early Literacy