New Mexico’s youngest children deserve experienced educators — and those educators deserve fair pay.

The Infant Toddler Pay Parity Program, offered by the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) and administered by CNM Ingenuity, was created to help close the wage gap between infant toddler educators and public school teachers with similar education and experience. The program recognizes the important role early childhood professionals play and supports them in staying in the field.

Who Can Apply?

You may be eligible if you are:

• • Infant toddler teacher

• • Home-based provider

• • Family child care owner

• • Director or administrator

To qualify, applicants must work in a child care program that participates in the Child Care Assistance Program and serves at least one child receiving assistance. Additional eligibility requirements vary by position and are available here.

Why This Program Matters

This program does more than provide financial support. It:

• • Promotes fair pay

• • Encourages educators to stay in the field

• • Helps strengthen the early childhood educator workforce

Recipients say the payments have made a meaningful difference in their lives and careers.

How to Apply

The application is simple and can take about 15–20 minutes if you have your documents ready.

Step 1: Go Online

Visit ececdscholarship.org and select Infant Toddler Pay Parity Program.

• • If you have applied for another ECECD program before, use the same login.

• • If not, create a new profile.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

You will need:

• • Recent pay stub

• • Employment verification letter

• • EPICS documentation showing your program participates in the New Mexico Child Care Assistance Program. Your program director can download the EPICS document (called the Child Care Placement Agreement).

• • Copies of your degrees, certificates, or transcripts

Step 3: Review Before Submitting

Before clicking submit:

• • Make sure all information matches across your application and documents

• • Check that your documents are the most recent ones available

• • Confirm you selected the correct program (in this case, Infant Toddler Pay Parity)

Taking a few extra minutes to review can help avoid delays.

Common Questions

• • How long does the application take?
    About 15–20 minutes if your documents are ready.

• • When is the deadline?
    The current deadline is May 15. Applying earlier may make you eligible for more payments.

• • Is there extra funding available?
    Yes. You may qualify for a $1,000 stipend (once per cycle) if you hold: Special Education License, Infant Mental Health Endorsement (IECMH), or Montessori Certificate (AMI, AMS, MACTE, IMI)

Need Help?

If you have questions, contact the ECECD Scholarship team at 505-224-3232 or [email protected].

Apply Now