Beginning in Fall 2027, Program Will Serve All of Staten Island and Every School District in the Bronx
Expansion Made Possible by $1.2 Billion Investment from Governor Hochul, Putting New York on a Path to Universal Child Care
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced the next phase of the city’s first-ever 2-K program. Starting in fall 2027, school districts will receive the next 10,000 2-K seats, bringing the program to 12,000 seats across the city, including all of Staten Island and every school district in the Bronx.
“Generations of parents have had to contend with the stress of child care costs in this city and state – but thanks to our partnership with Mayor Mamdani, that’s changing,” Governor Hochul said. “Last month, we stood together to celebrate the first day of 2-K in New York City, welcoming more than 2,000 kids to their new classrooms. Now, we’re pleased to announce the next phase, expanding the program to 10,000 more families across the city, including all of the Bronx and Staten Island. This is how we deliver real relief for working families, and make sure our kids get the best possible start in life.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “For far too many New York City families, the joy of welcoming a child comes with a terrifying set of questions: How will I afford child care? Will I need to give up my job? Will I be forced to leave the city I love? Today, for 10,000 more families, we have an answer. From Co-op City in the Bronx to Staten Island’s South Shore, we’re bringing 2-K to every borough and making New York City more affordable for working people. Families have told us what they need. Together with Governor Hochul, we are delivering.”
Last month, Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani welcomed the inaugural cohort of children to their first day of 2-K in New York City. Under the expansion announced today, the program will serve more than 12,000 families beginning in fall 2027. The Governor and the Mayor joined families and child care providers at Sky Zone, a Bronx trampoline park, to mark the historic occasion.
On the eighth day of Mayor Mamdani’s administration, Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani announced the State would be putting New York on a path toward universal child care through a broad suite of investments secured in this year’s FY27 Enacted Budget, which included the launch of 2-K in five school districts around New York City for fall 2026. Backed by a $1.2 billion State investment from Governor Hochul, the expansion advances the City’s vision of universal child care for children from six weeks to five years old. The funding secured by Governor Hochul is also supporting an expansion of the City’s 3-K program to ensure it is meeting the needs of families across the city, including areas not previously served by the program.
The Governor’s investment in New York City’s 2-K program is part of her historic effort to expand child care, including a $1.2 billion increase in support for early child care and early education efforts in New York City. These funds will bolster the City’s existing infrastructure to provide new 3-K seats to families across the city in addition to providing continued support for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which recently admitted 10,000 additional children in New York City into the program.
Earlier this year, Governor Hochul launched a historic expansion of free Pre-K seats in more than 400 public school districts across the state. Backed by a $560 million investment this year, the program is already lowering costs for families and helping to provide more families who want a Pre-K seat with access to one. New York will deliver statewide universal Pre-K by fall 2028.
Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “The arrival of free 2-K in New York City is a lifeline to families, and the expansion of additional seats will ensure that more families’ childcare needs are being met by providing safe and enriching learning environments for children across the city. Universal pre-K has long been championed by the senate majority and it’s exciting to see the program grow through investments this year’s budget provided. More families are getting the support they need to build a more prosperous life in New York.”
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said, “With the increasing cost of childcare nationwide, the expansion of both 2-K and 3-K in the largest city in America, New York City, is needed. Since the beginning of my tenure as Speaker, the Assembly Majority has prioritized legislation that continued to move the family’s first agenda forward and make New York the best place to live and raise a family. Meeting the needs of growing families allows them to continue to work, provide, and eases the burden of worry. Today’s announcement exemplifies the collaborative efforts between Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and the legislature, highlighting our commitment to families across NYC. Thank you to my partners in government, Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani, for their leadership and making the vision of Universal Childcare a tangible reality.”
State Senator Julia Salazar said, “Childcare for 2-year-olds costs an average of $26,000 per year – that's an astronomical amount of money that is forcing parents to decide between paying rent, putting food on the table, or ensuring their kids are looked after. We’ve seen how much of a lifeline Pre-K and 3-K have become for working families, and so I am thrilled that free 2-K is being expanded across our city, including to Bushwick’s Community School District 32.”
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “I was proud to have advocated for this expansion of New York City's free 2K program to include Staten Island, which is a huge step in the right direction ensuring that all families have access to quality childcare. Including Staten Island in the expansion will make a major difference in the lives of families raising children in our borough, many parts of which are a childcare desert. I know firsthand as a mother of two how much of a difference that universal childcare will make, and I will continue to push for expansions of this program across Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “As the cost of living increases and many of our residents are struggling to afford basic necessities, this expansion of the 2-K program will help ease the financial burden on our working-class residents and ensure New Yorkers do not have to choose between their careers and caring for their children. Full-day care allows parents and caregivers to maintain stable employment, advance their careers, and manage family responsibilities without compromising their child’s academic future. Thank you to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul for demonstrating time and time again their commitment to ensuring our youngest residents and their families receive the care and support that they need to thrive in our city.”