Child care centers denied early Pre-K funds due to overwhelming amount of applicants

An overwhelming number of applications is why some child care centers in Las Cruces didn’t receive additional funding this year.

Governor Susana Martinez announced an additional $3 million to go towards early pre- k education this July.

While those funds are providing 174 extra children this year in Las Cruces a place to play and learn, some schools still weren’t able to expand.

The director of Alpha Schools tells ABC-7 last year they received funding to provide a free education to 16 3-year-olds. Over 60, though, are on a waiting list. Despite being prepared to bring in more kids, the additional funding ran out.

“We had the children that were ready to come to school we just didn’t receive the funding so we had to turn away 16 children that could’ve made it, but over 60 children applied for the spot,” Director Ray Jaramillo said.

“Applications for this request for proposal were received and competitively scored with prioritization given to designated investment zone areas,” CYFD Spokesman Henry Varela said. “Unfortunately CYFD received more applications for funding then the amount of funds that were available therefore we were not able to fund all applicants.”

Varela says they gave priority to schools which were smaller and may have had lower accountability ratings, but were prepared to start a Pre-K program for the very first time.