Legislative auditors criticize child care providers

Legislative auditors are criticizing state oversight of taxpayer-subsidized child care providers, saying a government agency failed to detect sex offenders possibly living at child care locations. 

Auditors outlined their findings Wednesday to the Legislative Finance Committee. The audit report said the Children, Youth and Families Department suspended three child care homes after auditors told the agency that registered sex offenders listed the homes as their primary address. 

The audit report said New Mexico needs to better coordinate early childhood programs, such as subsidized child care for low-income families, with the state's more academically rigorous pre-kindergarten programs. Auditors said basic child care fails to improve the later school performance and literacy of students.

Legislative auditors criticize child care providers