NYC Unveils Plan for Universal Free Child Care

Mayor Mamdani's administration takes first steps toward accessible, affordable child care for all families

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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New York City is poised to make a significant shift in early childhood education, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration taking the first steps toward fulfilling a key campaign promise: accessible, affordable child care for all families. The city is actively laying the groundwork for both 2-K (for two-year-olds) and expanded 3-K programs, aiming to provide free care for approximately 2,000 two-year-olds this fall and serve all interested families citywide within four years.

Why it matters

The escalating cost of child care, averaging $20,000 annually, has become a major burden for New York families, forcing difficult choices about careers and family planning. Mayor Mamdani has framed universal child care as a necessary economic policy, not just a social good.

The details

The Mayor's Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education is currently gathering information from both families and child care providers to shape the rollout. The city is still determining the specifics of service models, evaluating neighborhoods with high concentrations of two-year-olds who lack access to affordable care, and exploring solutions to address the financial challenges faced by providers.

  • The initial phase focuses on providing free care for approximately 2,000 two-year-olds this fall.
  • The city aims to serve all interested families citywide within four years.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who has made universal child care a key campaign promise.

Kathy Hochul

The governor of New York who has committed significant state funding to support universal child care initiatives.

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What’s next

The city is actively seeking funding options to address the backlog of over 16,000 children on the child care voucher waitlist. An announcement regarding initial locations for the 2-K program is expected soon.

The takeaway

New York City's ambitious plan for universal child care, backed by the Mamdani administration and state-level support, aims to provide affordable, high-quality early care and education for all children, addressing a critical need for families and the local economy.