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Mayor Mandami and Gov. Kathy Hokll announce pilot to provide 2,000 free child‑care seats for two‑year‑olds
Summary
City and state officials announced a fall pilot to provide 2,000 free full‑day child‑care seats for two‑year‑olds as the first phase of a multi‑year effort toward universal child care in New York City, targeting an eventual roll‑out to about 12,000 two‑year‑olds by fall 2027.
Mayor Mandami and Governor Kathy Hokll announced at a press event at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum that the city and state will launch a pilot this fall providing 2,000 free child‑care seats for two‑year‑olds, a first phase of a broader plan the officials said will expand toward universal child care across the five boroughs.
"Beginning this fall, we will provide 2,000 free child care seats for 2‑year‑olds in four different parts of our city," Mayor Mandami said, thanking parent organizers and elected officials for pressing for the program. He said the pilot is intended to build capacity and infrastructure so the city can serve roughly 12,000 two‑year‑olds by fall 2027.
Governor Kathy Hokll said the state will support the rollout and framed it as part of a multi‑year funding commitment. "We’ve invested over eight billion dollars already in the four years that I’ve been governor," Hokll said, and described expanded income eligibility from a prior threshold she gave as $57,000 up to about $113,000, which she said will allow more families to qualify for subsidies. She urged rapid implementation rather than further study.
City education officials identified the phase‑one scope. Kamar Samuels, introduced as the chancellor, told the audience the initial launch will cover districts 6, 10, 18, 23 and 27 so the city can expand access "the right way with strong supports in place for all students." He thanked partners, providers and the mayor’s office of child care for coordinating the effort.
Speakers tied the pilot to economic and workforce goals. Mandami said the program would help parents return to work and estimated it could put about $20,000 per child back into parents’ finances. He cited research suggesting strong economic returns from early‑childhood investment and pointed to Quebec’s program as an example, saying the number of women in the workforce with young children grew by about 16 percent after that jurisdiction’s reform.
Officials repeatedly framed the announcement as the first phase of a five‑borough effort rather than a final plan. Samuels said lessons from the pilot will inform where and how the city expands 2K in subsequent years. No formal vote or legislative action was taken at the event; officials described the rollout as an administrative implementation backed by city and state funding commitments.
The event concluded with expressions of appreciation to parent organizers, council and state legislators in attendance and with closing remarks from city education staff. Officials said they will continue work on facility and workforce capacity before fall enrollment begins.
