Full-Day Kindergarten
Issue Summary
Because early childhood education profoundly influences a child's ability to succeed, Think New Mexico's inaugual project sought to make high-quality full-day kindergarten accessible to every child in New Mexico.
During the 2000 legislative session, our efforts were rewarded when the legislature passed a landmark bipartisan bill phasing in full-day kindergarten over a five-year period, which then-Governor Gary Johnson signed into law.
Think New Mexico has remained involved since then, ensuring that the program is implemented in a high-quality manner. We fought to ensure that the program gave priority to the most at-risk students (as required by the law).
We also conducted an independent survey of New Mexico's elementary schools, determined that the costs for new full-day kindergarten classroom construction were significantly lower than previously predicted, and successfully advocated for over $15 million for new classrooms. In October of 2002, the Foundation for Child Development published a case study on Think New Mexico's successful full-day kindergarten campaign.
From 2000-2004, Think New Mexico organized "best practices" training and professional development conferences for new full-day kindergarten teachers and principals.
In September of 2004, full-day kindergarten classes were expanded from 80% to 100% of the eligible population, or a grand total of about 24,000 children, bringing New Mexico from the bottom to the top of at least one significant national ranking (i.e. access to full-day kindergarten) in only five years.
Resources & Media
Read Think New Mexico's reports on full-day kindergarten
Download a Case Study 
on Think New Mexico's full-day kindergarten victory published by the Foundation for Child Development
Download an NEA Report that provides strategies and suggestions for supporters seeking to increase access to full-day kindergarten in other states
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial on the implementation of full-day kindergarten • August 27, 2004
Read Santa Fe New Mexican editorial on the passage of the full-day kindergarten law • March 11, 2000
Read Think New Mexico's opinion editorial on full-day kindergarten • February 2000
Get Involved
Thank your Legislators
Strong and consistent support from members of the public was a crucial element in convincing legislators to pass and fully fund the landmark full-day kindergarten law.
Click here if you would like to thank your legislators for making full-day kindergarten accessible to every child in New Mexico - you can compose and send emails or letters to them directly from Think New Mexico's Action Center.
Vocal public support of full-day kindergarten played a big role in making in happen.
We encourage you to express your support for full-day kindergarten through the media, as well as directly to your representatives.
The Media section of Think New Mexico's Action Center provides the names and contact information for your local media, including newspapers, radio stations, and television stations, and you can compose and send any of them an email or letter right from the page.
