Mayor Mamdani Expands Free Child Care Programs in First 100 Days

New York City to offer free child care to 2,000 2-year-olds in high-need neighborhoods this fall.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:56pm

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A warm, cinematic painting of a mother and child playing in a sun-dappled urban park, with soft brushstrokes and deep shadows capturing the quiet, nostalgic mood of the scene.A mother and child enjoy a moment of respite in a sun-dappled urban park, as the city's new free child care programs aim to support families and keep them in the city.NYC Today

In his first 100 days in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made a major push to expand access to free child care programs. With support from Governor Kathy Hochul, the city will offer free child care to 2,000 2-year-olds in high-need neighborhoods starting this fall. The administration is also working to add more than 1,000 new seats in 3-K and pre-K programs across the five boroughs.

Why it matters

Providing affordable, accessible child care is a key part of Mayor Mamdani's affordability agenda for New York City. Research shows families with young children are twice as likely to leave the city due to the high cost of child care, which can average $26,000 per year. The mayor's plan aims to make child care a public good and keep families in the city.

The details

The new 2-K program will launch this fall in high-need neighborhoods across Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, with plans to expand to Staten Island in 2027. The city is also adding more than 1,000 new seats in 3-K and pre-K programs in 56 zip codes. At the Nicholas Caddell Daycare Center in Inwood, the existing city-funded 3-K and pre-K programs have been free since 1973, but the center still has a waitlist of 100 children.

  • The 2-K program will launch this fall with 2,000 slots.
  • The 2-K program is expected to expand to 12,000 slots by the fall of 2027.
  • The city plans to have space for every 2-year-old in New York City within four years.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who has made expanding access to free child care a priority in his first 100 days in office.

Kathy Hochul

The governor of New York who is supporting the city's efforts to expand free child care programs.

Emmy Liss

The official leading the charge on the mayor's child care initiatives as part of his affordability agenda.

Dessa Carol

A Brooklyn resident who wishes she could afford full-time child care for her daughter Hazara.

Nicholas Caddell Daycare Center

A daycare center in Inwood that has offered free 3-K and pre-K programs since 1973, but still has a waitlist of 100 children.

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What they’re saying

“We see families with children under six twice as likely to leave the city as other households, often because they cite the cost of child care.”

— Emmy Liss, Official leading the mayor's child care initiatives

“When we're out playground, she lines up with other day cares like ready to go. And it makes me feel bad that I can't, you know, give that to her.”

— Dessa Carol, Brooklyn resident

“We have to be on the ground. We have to be working with trusted community partners, faith leaders, community-based organizations who can help us get the word out to families.”

— Emmy Liss, Official leading the mayor's child care initiatives

What’s next

The administration is still in the process of identifying which 2-K providers in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn are on board. In the fall of 2027, Staten Island will be looped in.

The takeaway

Mayor Mamdani's ambitious plan to expand access to free child care is a significant step towards making New York City more affordable and keeping families in the city. By partnering with community organizations and leveraging state funding, the administration aims to transform child care into a public good that supports working families.