Pre-Kindergarten

The New Mexico Pre Kindergarten (PreK) Initiative prepares four-year old children for success in school through funding from two agencies, CYFD and the State Public Education Department (PED). PreK also begins to close the achievement gap between students, and helps meet the vision of a seamless education system that begins in Pre-Kindergarten and continues through higher education.

Studies show that PreK is having significant, positive effects on children's learning in the areas of language, literacy, and math skills. Children who attended PreK entered kindergarten knowing more letters, more letter-sound associations and heightened familiarity with words and book concepts.

Since Governor Richardson and Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish introduced the initiative in Fiscal Year 2006, PreK has served approximately 3,600 children throughout New Mexico through CYFD, and about the same number through PED.