New York City Opens 3-K And Pre-K Applications Through Feb. 27 – How NYC Families Can Apply

New York, NY — New York City families with children turning 3 or 4 this year can now apply for free 3-K and pre-K placements, with applications open through Feb. 27, 2026. City officials are urging parents and caregivers to submit an application during the window to be considered for fall 2026 seats.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels marked the first day of applications with a visit to a 3-K and pre-K child care center in Cypress Hills, according to a City Hall announcement. The mayor also released a video encouraging families to apply as part of a broader outreach effort that will run on TaxiTV and LinkNYC.

Families can apply online at myschools.nyc, call 718-935-2009 for help, or visit one of the city’s 13 Family Welcome Centers across the five boroughs. City schools officials say online applications are available in 13 languages, with interpretation available in 200+ languages by phone or in person.

Officials emphasized that applications are not first-come, first-served, so families can apply at any point before the deadline. The city says any family that applies by Feb. 27 will receive an offer.

What parents should do now: create or log in to a MySchools account, rank programs you’d actually accept, and call the hotline if you need translation or help comparing sites. Family Welcome Centers are generally open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Fridays.

The city said it will continue outreach through the application period and advised families to check MySchools for updates and enrollment support.

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.