New York City – Hochul, Mamdani Announce Free Child Care For 2 And Under; Universal Pre-K By 2028-29

New York, N.Y. — New York City parents could soon see a major new option for toddlers: state leaders say they will launch a free child care program for 2-year-olds while also pushing to expand early education access statewide. This comes as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services restricts access to certain federal payments.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city’s new “2-Care” initiative would be funded by the state for the first two years. The first year is expected to focus on high-need areas selected by the city, with a citywide expansion planned by year four. Leaders also said the state and city will work to strengthen the existing 3K program with the goal of true universal access.

Beyond New York City, Hochul’s plan calls for “truly universal” pre-K for every 4-year-old in the state by the start of the 2028-29 school year. The proposal would boost per-seat support to the greater of $10,000 or a district’s foundation-aid amount, a commitment the city described as roughly a half-billion dollars.

The plan also expands child care help for working families through the state Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). New York City said most families served pay no more than $15 a week, and the state would add $1.2 billion to subsidies, bringing total subsidy funding to more than $3 billion.

What parents should know: Watch for NYC enrollment details for 2-Care and 3K updates, and check your county’s child care office about CCAP eligibility and required documents (proof of income, residency, and child age). More specifics are expected as the governor’s proposals move through the state budget process.

This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.

Source: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mayor-mamdani—governor-hochul-to-launch-free-child-care-for-tw