Summary
New York plans to expand free and affordable child care for children under five years old. Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani aim to make child care universal across the state, offering significant cost savings for families. This plan is projected to cost $4.5 billion by 2027.
Key Facts
- New York's plan focuses on children under five, aiming to provide universal child care.
- The initiative includes free child care for 2-year-olds in high-need areas and strengthening the 3K program.
- Governor Hochul proposes an additional $1.7 billion investment, totaling $4.5 billion by 2027.
- Universal pre-K is expected to roll out by the 2028-2029 school year.
- Mayor Mamdani's 2-Care program will gradually provide free care citywide over four years.
- The initiative also aims to expand child care subsidies for thousands of families across the state.
- Governor Hochul will create an Office of Child Care and Early Education to oversee the program.
- The announcement followed President Trump’s administration's temporary freezing of child care funds in some states, including New York, due to fraud concerns.
