Mayor Eric Adams announced an $80 million investment to enhance early childhood education and expand support for children with special needs on Thursday. The funding, included in New York City’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, allocates $70 million to preschool special education and $10 million to launch a pilot childcare program for infants and toddlers.
The initiative aims to address persistent gaps in support services, including speech, occupational, and physical therapy, for young children. The pilot program, scheduled to begin in January 2026, will focus on enhancing access to affordable childcare for low-income families, particularly those residing in high-need communities.
Mayor Eric Adams described the investment as part of the city’s “Best Budget Ever,” emphasizing its role in making universal pre-K truly inclusive and launching a new childcare pilot for infants and toddlers.
The city’s education department plans to double the number of Preschool Regional Assessment Center teams, reduce staff caseloads, and assign more coordinators to guide families through the special education process. Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos noted that the department is actively responding to the needs of families and communities, not just listening to them, but taking meaningful action.
The $10 million pilot program aims to assess the need for childcare among families with children aged 0 to 2, with planning and community outreach efforts already in motion. Officials say this step is part of a long-term goal to establish a universal childcare system.
The budget also builds on earlier reforms, including reductions in childcare co-payments. For families earning $55,000 annually, weekly costs have fallen from $55 to $4.80 since 2022. Advocates argue that while this is progress, further investment is necessary. Executive Director Raysa Rodriguez acknowledged that while progress has been made, more must be done, emphasizing that a vast majority of New York City families still can’t afford child care.
Lawmakers and community leaders praised the move. Senator Roxanne Persaud called the funding “a game-changer,” while Susan Stamler of United Neighborhood Houses said it marks a “critical first step” toward equitable access for all families.
City officials say they will track the pilot’s impact and scale up successful strategies as part of a broader effort to achieve educational equity and economic mobility.
