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APRIL 16 - 22, 2026
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City expands full day 2-K childcare access In an effort toward having universal, accessible childcare, starting next school year most 2-K seats will operate on a full-day and full-year schedule, city officials said. “Our movement is built on the belief that universal child care is essential infrastructure in a city that delivers for its people,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani, said in a news release. “Every dollar we invest in our children is an investment in a stronger, more equitable New York City — o n e wh e re families can af ford to stay ZOhran MaMdani and grow. When gover nment Mayor acts with urgency and purpose, we can deliver real results for working families — and we’re just getting started.”
O
ur■ movement■ is■built■on■ the■belief■ that■universal■ child■care■is■ essential.
Launching 2-K
Earlier this year, Mamdani introduced 2-K in partnership with Gov. Kathy Hochul, providing free childcare for thousands of two-year-olds – a major step toward universal childcare for children from six weeks to five years old. Since then, the Mayor has:
Ed■Reed/Mayoral■Photography■Office■
Beginning next school year, most 2-K seats will operate on a full-day and full-year schedule. Above, Mayor Zohran Mamdani with the Victory Music and Dance Company on April 9. “Child care isn’t just a service — it creates jobs, strengthens our economy and makes our city more affordable,” Emmy Liss, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, said in the release.
Expanding 3-K
Mamdani also announced an expansion of more than 1,000 new 3-K seats in 56 ZIP codes, strengthening and expanding the program.
■■ Announced■a■groundbreaking■procurement■process■to■bring■new■providers■in■to■ join■2-K,■and■for■the■first■time■in■five■ years,■expand■participation■in■3-K.■
■■ New■seats■will■be■added■this■fall■in■five■ ZIP■codes■including■21■in■Queens.■
■■ Identified■the■first■four■communities■to■ receive■2,000■2-K■seats,■with■plans■to■ expand■to■12,000■seats■across■every■borough■next■year■and■achieve■full■universality■by■the■end■of■the■first■term.■
■■ The■opening■of■an■early■childhood■center■on■the■Upper■East■Side■will■meet■longstanding■demand■in■the■neighborhood■ that■went■unmet■under■the■previous■ administration.■
■■ Launched■a■citywide■jingle■competition■ with■Cardi■B,■to■raise■awareness■ahead■of■ the■June■2■application■opening.■ ■■ Established■full-day,■full-year■programming,■from■8:00■a.m.■to■6:00■p.m.,■260■ days■a■year,■as■the■primary■2-K■model■to■ meet■families’■needs.■
Cutting Red Tape, Supporting Providers The administration has moved to reduce bureaucratic barriers and better support childcare providers:
■■ Launched■a■new■online■childcare■center■provider■permitting■portal■with■the■ Health■Department,■replacing■a■fragment-
ed■system■and■making■it■easier■to■open■ childcare■centers.■ ■■ Engaged■directly■with■providers■to■gather■feedback■and■identify■pathways■to■a■ more■sustainable■system.■ ■ Visited 11 early childhood programs across all five boroughs, highlighting diverse care modes and recognizing educators and caregivers. Mamdani became the first Mayor to visit a home-based family childcare provider. “The progress we’ve made in early childhood education since January proves two things: there is a need for expansion and City support makes a real difference,” Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said in the release. Making Child Care More Accessible To address longstanding confusion about available resources, the administration has introduced new tools and outreach efforts:
■■ Launched■the■New■York■City■Parent■ Survey■with■Robin■Hood■and■the■New■ Practice■Lab,■giving■families■a■direct■ role■in■shaping■universal■childcare.■ ■■ Introduced■a■first-of-its-kind■childcare■map■and■resource■center■to■help■ families■to■find■and■compare■pro-
grams.■Since■the■launch■on■April■1,■over■ 10,000■unique■users■have■visited■the■site.■ ■■ Advanced■the■City's■first■free,■on-site■ child■care■pilot■program■for■municipal■ workers,■with■applications■opening■on■ April■30.■ ■■ Included■$70■million■in■the■preliminary■ budget■for■preschool■special■education■to■ ensure■continuity■of■services. These efforts are part of a broader, coordinated outreach strategy to ensure families are aware of available programs. The campaign has included PSAstyle videos, featuring community leaders such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a joint op-ed by Mamdani and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and multilingual advertising across LinkNYC kiosks, TaxiTV and City ferries. — Jeffrey Bessen