Bilingual Incentive Payment

Bilingual incentive for early childhood educators

Join Our Email List

Horas de Oficina en Español

Las Horas de Oficina en español ahora están disponibles cada jueves y viernes, la primera semana de cada mes, desde las 11 hasta las 12, para brindar respuestas y consejos con respecto a todos los programas de ECECD y ECN. Haga clic aquí para entrar a le reunión: Reunión por Zoom

Nota: Estas horas de oficina son para los hispanohablantes solamente – los anglohablantes deben continuar a contactar a la línea principal o a su asesor directamente.

Click here to Apply for the ECECD Bilingual Payment Incentive

About the Program

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) offers a one-time $1,500 payment to certified bilingual or multilingual early childhood educators. This payment is available to early childhood professionals who meet the requirements listed below. All qualification rules for Scholarships and Payment Incentives are set by ECECD, and all awards depend on available funding.

Who Can Apply

The Bilingual Incentive Payment Program is open to early childhood employees who:

Work at least 20 hours per week
Work with children ages 0–5 (birth through Pre-K)
Work at one of the following qualifying programs:
  • Early care and education programs licensed or registered through ECECD
  • Tribal child care programs
  • ECECD-funded PreK or Early PreK programs in community-based settings
  • NM PreK or Early PreK programs offered through public schools or charter schools, including Title I or 619 Preschool
  • NM Head Start or Early Head Start
  • NM Tribal Head Start or Early Head Start
  • ECECD-funded Home Visiting or Family Infant Toddler Programs
  • ECECD-funded Early Childhood Coalition programs

Employment Verification

All applicants must submit an employment verification letter written on letterhead that includes:

  • Your name
  • Job title
  • Ages of children you work with
  • Hours worked per week
  • Hourly pay rate
  • Signature of your supervisor
  • Your supervisor’s contact information

Bilingual Certification Documents

ALL languages qualify for the Bilingual Incentive Payment

  • The incentive is not limited to Spanish speakers
  • Examples of eligible languages include American Sign Language, Japanese, and Native languages.
  • One-time incentive payment totals $1,500
  • You must also have a CNM W-9 form on file before payment can be issued. The Program Team will contact you if a new W-9 is needed.

Important Notes

  • Certification must show proficiency in your secondary language. Example: If your primary (the first language learned) language is Spanish and your secondary (the second language learned) language is English, you must upload documents certifying your English proficiency.
  • Make sure you select your primary and secondary languages correctly, as you cannot change them after submitting your application.

Acceptable Certification Documents

Upload one of the following:

  • Passing score on the World Language PRAXIS or another approved language assessment
  • Passing score on La Prueba
  • High school diploma with a bilingual seal
  • Tribal/Pueblo/Nation certification for an Indigenous language
  • Another document showing language proficiency

If you have a different type of certification document, contact us for help. If you need support with the application, we are here to assist you.

Language Proficiency Testing Options

These are examples of organizations that offer language proficiency tests. We do not endorse these sites, and other testing options may be available. Approved bilingual applicants may be reimbursed for testing costs.