New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday an expansion of the city’s free 2-K child care program, adding 10,000 seats for two-year-olds beginning in fall 2027.
The expansion will increase the program’s capacity from 2,000 to more than 12,000 children across 22 of the city’s 32 school districts.
Every school district in the Bronx and Staten Island will be included, alongside additional neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
The program provides free, full-day, year-round child care and early education. Families could save an estimated $26,000 annually per child, offering significant relief as New York City parents face rising living expenses.
The expansion is backed by a $1.2 billion state investment and advances Mamdani’s broader goal of universal child care.
However, implementation will require sufficient providers, educators and administrative capacity. The city has announced procurement reforms intended to improve contracting and provider payments as the program grows.
City officials said details about the fall 2027 application process will be announced in the coming weeks. Families can visit nyc.gov/childcare for information about child care options.
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