Over the next few years, New York City families will get free childcare for their two-year-olds as the state and city expands its universal childcare system.
Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday said the state will invest funds for affordable, universal childcare for children under five years of age across the state, including strengthening the existing 3K program so more families have access to it in New York City.
“There’s one thing that every family in New York can agree on, the cost of childcare is simply too high,” Hochul said in a statement. "Since taking office, I’ve put families front and center, fighting to make our state more affordable and laying the groundwork to deliver universal childcare."
The plan will make Pre-K truly universal statewide; start a 2-Care program and continue fulfilling universal 3K access in New York City; support other counties in building out new child care pilots that offer high-quality affordable care to families regardless of income; and expand child care subsidies to tens of thousands of additional families.
The governor said she is committing to fully fund the first two years of the city’s program. The first year will focus on implementing the program in high-need areas and expand to serve all interested families across the city by year four. In addition, the governor will partner with the mayor to strengthen and fix the city’s 3K program and ensure it achieves its promise of universal access.
“Over the past 14 months, a movement was born to fight for a city where every New Yorker could afford a life of dignity and every family could afford to raise their kids. Today, Governor Hochul and I meet that movement as we celebrate our joint commitment to universal child care,” said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “This victory represents much more than a triumph of city and state government working in partnership—it is proof that when New Yorkers come together, we can transform the way government serves working families.”
In addition, the governor will launch an Office of Child Care and Early Education to steer the implementation of high-quality, universal child care for families.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration is looking to freeze about $3 billion in federal child care subsidies for the state. Details on how the new childcare program will be funded were not immediately announced.
