NYC's Free 2-K Child Care Expands to 12,000 Seats, Covering All Bronx Districts and Staten Island by Fall 2027
New York City is located in New York State. NEW YORK — New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on October 19 announced the second phase of the city's first-ever 2-K program, free child care for 2-year-olds. Beginning in fall 2027, the program will add 10,000 seats, bringing the total to 12,000 seats citywide, including all of Staten Island and every school district in the Bronx.
The two leaders marked the announcement with families and child care providers at a Bronx trampoline park. "Generations of parents have had to contend with the stress of child care costs in this city and state — but thanks to our partnership with Mayor Mamdani, that's changing," Hochul said. "Last month, we stood together to celebrate the first day of 2-K in New York City, welcoming more than 2,000 kids to their new classrooms. Now, we're pleased to announce the next phase, expanding the program to 10,000 more families across the city." Mamdani said: "Today, for 10,000 more families, we have an answer. From Co-op City in the Bronx to Staten Island's South Shore, we're bringing 2-K to every borough."
The expansion is backed by a $1.2 billion state investment and is part of New York's path toward universal child care. This year's state budget also supports expansion of the city's 3-K program and the Child Care Assistance Program. The governor's office said free Pre-K seats were expanded in more than 400 public school districts statewide this year, with statewide universal Pre-K set for fall 2028. (GSM reporting based on the New York governor's office release)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：纽约州州长Kathy Hochul（2025年10月出席公开活动时讲话，资料图）。图片来源：Metropolitan Transportation Authority，CC BY 4.0，经Wikimedia Commons。Photo: New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaking at a public event in October 2025 (file photo). Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
