New Mexico Head Start and Preschool Enrollment for Grandparents

The Affidavit Covers Early Childhood Too

A 2017 amendment to New Mexico law (House Bill 394, Chapter 62) expanded the Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit to explicitly include early childhood programs. Before that change, the affidavit only referenced K–12 enrollment. Now, NMSA § 40-10B-15(A)(1) covers early intervention services, child development programs, Head Start, and preschool.

If you are a grandparent or relative raising a child under age five, you can use the same Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit to enroll that child in Head Start, state-funded preschool, or private preschool. You do not need a custody order.

Head Start Enrollment

New Mexico Head Start and Early Head Start programs are federally funded and operated by local agencies. Programs set selection criteria based on community needs, including family income, homelessness, foster care, age, disability or early-intervention eligibility, and other child or family risk factors. Children in kinship care are often prioritized because of the family disruption they have experienced.

To enroll, contact your local Head Start grantee and bring:

• The notarized Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit (Items 1–4 minimum; complete the additional medical-care items if you are a relative under NMSA § 40-10B-3 and need authority for care beyond that covered by Items 1–4)
• The child's birth certificate or proof of age
• Proof of your address within the program's service area
• Immunization records if available
• Family-income documentation if the program is assessing low-income eligibility; homeless children are eligible under a separate category

Head Start programs are familiar with kinship care. Staff deal with non-parent caregivers regularly and should not question the affidavit. The immunity clause in § 40-10B-15(E) applies to health-care providers relying on the affidavit to provide medical, dental, or mental health care; it does not cover enrollment decisions.

New Mexico PreK (State-Funded Preschool)

New Mexico's state-funded preschool program, administered by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), offers free preschool for three- and four-year-olds. Enrollment is handled through individual school districts and community-based providers.

The process is similar to Head Start: bring the affidavit, the child's proof of age, immunization records, and proof of residence. New Mexico PreK does not have income requirements — it is available to all children in the target age range, though spots may be limited.

Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program

If you are caring for a baby or toddler under age three and you suspect a developmental delay, the Family Infant Toddler (FIT) program provides free evaluations and early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

You can refer the child to FIT yourself by contacting your local FIT provider through ECECD. The Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit authorizes enrollment in early intervention services, but federal Part C rules require parental consent for evaluations and services. A caregiver who lives with the child and acts in place of a parent may qualify as the Part C parent; if a biological or adoptive parent also qualifies and is trying to act, that parent is presumed to hold the rights. Ask FIT to confirm who can consent and participate in IFSP planning under 34 C.F.R. §§ 303.27 and 303.420. If the child qualifies, FIT develops an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

You do not need a court order or a parent's signature to start a FIT referral.

McKinney-Vento for Young Children

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act applies to preschool-age children as well as school-age children. A child who is sharing housing because of loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason may qualify as homeless even while staying with you.

McKinney-Vento eligibility means:

• Immediate enrollment in public school or public preschool, even without records normally required for enrollment
• For Head Start, homeless families may apply, enroll, and attend while required documents are obtained within a reasonable time
• Transportation assistance if needed
• Access to the school district's Homeless Liaison for additional support

Contact your school district's Homeless Liaison to determine eligibility. The liaison can also help connect you with community resources for clothing, food assistance, and healthcare.

Immunizations for Young Children

New Mexico's immunization rules cover school, childcare, and preschool programs. Children generally need evidence of completed immunizations or evidence that they have started the required series and are following its schedule. If the child qualifies as homeless, McKinney-Vento and Head Start rules allow enrollment while missing records are obtained; that is not a general exemption for every child without records.

Contact the child's previous pediatrician for records, or check the New Mexico Immunization Information System (NMSIIS) — the state's electronic immunization registry. Your local health department can also pull records from NMSIIS.

If the child is behind, ask the provider to document the immunizations already given and the remaining schedule. A school or Head Start program does not issue a temporary immunization exemption.

Our New Mexico School and Medical Consent Guide covers early childhood enrollment alongside K–12, including the FIT referral process, Head Start registration checklists, and the immunization catch-up timeline.

See more New Mexico guides →