Heinrich Tours Early Childhood Center, Highlights Funding He Secured to Expand Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program Across New Mexico

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SANTA FE, N.M. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, toured the Early Childhood Center of Excellence at Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) and met with educators and teacher apprentices to discuss their work to expand the APRENDE workforce development program, which provides high-quality early childhood education and prepares the next generation of early childhood educators.

The visit follows Heinrich securing $273,000 to expand the APRENDE Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program statewide.

In 2014, Heinrich was the first member of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to publicly support unlocking investments from the state's Land Grant Permanent Fund to sustainably support early childhood education. After the New Mexico Legislature and voters in the state passed the necessary state constitutional amendment to unlock these investments, Heinrich successfully led the effort to secure Congressional authorization of the amendment through his New Mexico Education Enhancement Act, which passed in the Omnibus Appropriations Agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23).

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), tours the Early Childhood Center of Excellence in Santa Fe after securing $273,000 for New Mexico's APRENDE teacher apprenticeship program, February 27, 2026.

"There is no better investment we can make than in our children. That's why I've fought to secure funding for New Mexico's early childhood education programs and lay the groundwork to strengthen our commitment to universal childcare," said Heinrich."But our work isn't done. We need to scale New Mexico's early childhood education workforce pipeline and invest in our educators to ensure the highest quality education for our kids. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fund and support these programs because our children deserve the strongest possible start to their future."

The Early Childhood Center of Excellence at Santa Fe Community College uses an evidence-based, research-driven approach to early childhood education and care. Its APRENDE teacher apprenticeship program, now in its third year, plays a critical role in workforce development by offering an innovative, accelerated pathway for students to earn early childhood educator credentials alongside hands-on classroom experience.

Since the program's launch, 65 pre-apprentices and 38 apprentices have participated. To date, 28 students have earned certificates, three have completed associate degrees, and 17 are currently employed in early childhood education. Additionally, 80 percent of the staff are bilingual.

Heinrich was joined by SFCC President Dr. Becky Rowley, SFCC Kids Campus Assistant Director Julie Nygren, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Center of Excellence Catron Allred, APRENDE Program Manager Krystel Sanchez, Late Twos classroom Teacher Assistant Etagu Wondimu, and Early Pre-K A Lead Teacher Eugenio Nava.

"Santa Fe Community College has built a proven model in APRENDE that is transforming how we prepare early childhood educators in New Mexico. We are creating a high-quality workforce pipeline that supports families, strengthens communities, and helps our state meet the growing demand for universal childcare," said Becky Rowley, Ph.D., President, Santa Fe Community College. "With Senator Heinrich's support, we can expand this model statewide by partnering with higher education institutions and employer partners who are equally committed to building a highly skilled early childhood workforce. This investment is about more than training teachers; it's about building the infrastructure New Mexico needs to ensure every child has access to high-quality early learning."

"APRENDE is the first education apprenticeship program in New Mexico. Through strong partnerships and community support in Santa Fe, we have built a model that strengthens the early childhood workforce pipeline for individuals who are new to the field as well as current educators who want additional support to earn degrees and credentials. The APRENDE program blends rigorous academic preparation with paid, hands-on classroom experience and allows educators to remain in their classrooms while they continue their education. This approach helps build competence, confidence, and long-term commitment to the profession," said Catron Allred, Executive Director, Early Childhood Center of Excellence. "We are grateful for the federal investment that allows us to expand this work across New Mexico. Workforce capacity remains the central challenge in reaching universal childcare in the state. APRENDE addresses that need by supporting educators as they earn credentials, strengthen their practice, and prepare to take on leadership roles in early childhood classrooms."

"From an employer's perspective, APRENDE has created a true workforce pipeline. We've been able to welcome pre-apprentices into our classrooms, support their growth, and ultimately hire them as members of our team. To date, we've hired more than ten APRENDE participants at Kids Campus," said Julie Nygren, Assistant Director, Curriculum & Instruction, Santa Fe Community College Kids Campus. "That continuity benefits our children, our families, and our center. These educators are already grounded in best practices and understand our culture of high-quality care. The program allows us to grow our own teachers while maintaining the high standards our families expect."

"APRENDE is about developing a highly qualified, confident workforce. Our apprentices are not just learning theory in a classroom- they are practicing those skills every day in early childhood settings with mentorship and structured support," said Krystel Sanchez, APRENDE Program Manager. "We meet educators where they are and help them build competencies step by step. The combination of scholarship support, coaching, and on-the-job learning removes barriers and strengthens teacher confidence. When educators feel prepared and supported, children benefit. That's the heart of this work."

"APRENDE created a door for me to become a better teacher and advocate for early childhood," said Etagu Wondimu, Teacher Assistant, Late Twos Classroom. "APRENDE is the solution for supporting future educators because it helps us to understand the early childhood classroom environment while we study. We can apply what we learn directly working with children."

Heinrich has long led efforts to deliver more resources to support early childhood education in New Mexico.

In September 2021, Heinrich announced nearly $17 million in federal funding to support Head Start services across New Mexico. Head Start promotes school readiness of children under the age of five from low-income families through education, health, social and other services.

In November 2023, Heinrich announced $10 million in federal funds to improve early childhood education and care in New Mexico through supporting comprehensive initiatives aimed at bolstering New Mexico's early childhood infrastructure.

In August 2024, Heinrich and the N.M. Delegation welcomed $191,000 for New Mexico to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities.

In May 2024, Heinrich and the N.M. Delegation welcomed $2,858,376 from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to expand access to apprenticeship opportunities, prepare more New Mexicans for quality jobs, and strengthen the local workforce.

In FY25 funding, Heinrich secured a $3,000,000 Congressionally Directed Spending request by him and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján for HELP New Mexico, Inc. to renovate classroom spaces to expand early childhood services in Luna County.

In FY26 government funding, Heinrich successfully secured and passed into law:

• $273,000 for the Early Childhood Center of Excellence at Santa Fe Community College to expand the APRENDE Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program.

• $250,000 for the Three Rivers Education Foundation to provide early childhood literacy training and resources.

• $500,000 for the Hispano Roundtable of New Mexico, in partnership with Explora Science Center and Children's Museum, to offer Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) programs.

• $333,000 for Las Cumbres Community Services to expand its Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program and serve additional families in northern New Mexico.

In 2024, as then-Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC), Heinrich released a report on the benefits of early childhood education and held a hearing to highlight the importance of investing in early education, featuring New Mexico Speaker of the House Javier Martínez as one of the witnesses.

Heinrich also cosponsored the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act to alleviate childcare costs for working families. The legislation permanently expands childcare tax credits by increasing the maximum credit amount to $4,000 per child, automatically adjusted to keep pace with inflation, and ensure working families can benefit from the tax credit by making it refundable - allowing families to receive up to $8,000 each.

In 2023, Heinrich introduced the Working Families Tax Relief Act to permanently expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

In 2024, Heinrich released a statement blasting Senate Republicans for blocking a tax package that would have expanded the Child Tax Credit for 16 million children, provided tax support for businesses to invest in research, development, and manufacturing, and more.

In September 2023, Heinrich introduced the Child Care Stabilization Act, which provides $16 billion in mandatory funding each year for the next five years to continue the successful Child Care Stabilization Grant program. This investment ensures childcare providers continue to receive a stable and reliable source of funding to help them deliver high-quality and affordable childcare for working families across the country.

In June 2023, Heinrich introduced the Apprenticeship Pathways Act to create pathways to careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships offer a direct path to acquiring in-demand skills, and early exposure to industries can encourage more students to pursue careers in those professions. Expanding apprenticeship programs for high school students can help address workforce shortages and ensure a sustainable workforce pipeline.

In May 2023, Heinrich introduced the Living Schoolyards Act to support schools in New Mexico as they re-envision their outdoor spaces to create more hands-on learning opportunities, strengthen local ecological systems, and give every child a place to learn and play outside.

In May 2024, at a roundtable conversation with local educators in Albuquerque, Heinrich announced his Educator Down Payment Assistance Act, legislation designed to help more educators and school staff in New Mexico purchase a home, and keep teachers in the communities where they teach.

In April 2024, Heinrich cosponsored the Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now (RETAIN) Act, legislation to improve teacher pay and retention, and address the shortage of early childhood and K-12 teachers in New Mexico and nationwide.

In March 2024, Heinrich introduced the Literacy Improvement for Transformation (LIFT) Act, legislation that aims to improve literacy outcomes for all students by ensuring that every K-12 public school has at least one full-time reading or literacy specialist on staff.

In February 2024, Heinrich introduced the Pre-Apprenticeships To Hardhats (PATH) Act, legislation to strengthen the pipeline for careers in New Mexico, address rising workforce shortages, and grow the state's economy through quality pre-apprenticeship programs.

Last August, Heinrich reintroduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to expand access to pre-K, and support full-day, full-year Head Start programs and increased wages for Head Start workers.

Last November, Heinrich demanded answers regarding delays in disbursing Head Start funds by the Trump Administration, which the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found violated the Impoundment Control Act. In the letter, Heinrich highlighted how these delays forced programs to reduce services, temporarily close classrooms, lay off staff, and left thousands of children and families without critical early learning and family support. Heinrich also called for immediate clarification on authorization of the delays, legal rationale, and measures to prevent recurrence, as well as assurances that Head Start programs can continue providing inclusive services for children with disabilities.

Last April, Heinrich blasted the Trump Administration's attacks om Head Start and demanded U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately unfreeze Head Start funding and reverse firings of early childhood education workers.

Last March, Heinrich sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon demanding that the Education Department immediately reinstate $600 million in federal funding intended to strengthen our educator workforce and improve student learning. In New Mexico, the Three Rivers Education Foundation is an educational non-profit that partners with Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexican school districts to support high quality educators through Education Department partnership grants. Thanks to these federal grants, aspiring teachers can pursue a Master of Education degree while receiving a livable wage. However, Trump gutted these federal grants, impacting nearly $17 million.

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