New York City expands free 2-K childcare program to 12,000 seats

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul have announced an expansion of the city’s free 2-K childcare program. Set for fall 2027, the expansion will add 10,000 seats, bringing the total number of available spots to more than 12,000.

The program will expand to 22 of the city’s 32 school districts. This includes all of the Bronx and the entirety of Staten Island, which was excluded from the inaugural rollout of 2,000 seats this year. The expansion aims to increase accessibility for working families across all five boroughs.

Governor Hochul has committed $425 million to the program for next year, following a $73 million commitment this year. While Mayor Mamdani has pledged to expand the program citywide for all eligible two-year-olds by the end of his first term, the Governor has currently committed funding for the first two years.