Emily Wildau

In the wake of new federal data about food benefits — which could potentially cost New Mexico hundreds of millions of dollars — advocates at New Mexico Voices for Children urged the public to remember the newly released state error rates should not be mistaken for fraud rates.

New Mexico is seeing improvements in child poverty and economic well-being according to this year’s Annie E. Casey’s Kids COUNT report, but the state still ranks 49th in the nation for child well-being overall. Advocates say major investments in children are making a difference, though the full impact may take years to appear.

Despite some limitations, the expanded Opportunity Scholarship is among the nation's most generous - if not the most generous - programs to support college tuition for a broad range of students.