Governor Kathy Hochul announced a major expansion of New York’s child care and early education system, committing billions to make care more affordable and accessible for children under five. The plan includes free child care for two-year-olds in New York City and aims to provide prekindergarten access to all four-year-olds statewide by the 2028–2029 school year.
In partnership with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, state officials will launch the new 2-Care program while strengthening the existing 3K system to achieve universal coverage. Officials emphasized that the initiative will target districts and neighborhoods that currently lack sufficient child care and Pre-K services.
The plan includes a $1.7 billion funding increase, bringing total spending on child care and prekindergarten to $4.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2027. This will expand affordable care to nearly 100,000 additional children statewide. Since taking office, Hochul has directed more than $8.6 billion toward child care, including expanded subsidies, higher reimbursement rates for providers, and capital funding for new centers.
Eligibility for child care subsidies will also expand, with most families paying no more than $15 per week. State officials noted that counties outside New York City will be invited to participate in pilot programs offering full-day, year-round care regardless of income.
To oversee the expansion, a new Office of Child Care and Early Education will coordinate program rollout, support providers, and strengthen the workforce. The plan also includes an expansion of the child and dependent care tax credit, providing an average additional benefit of $575 for qualifying families, according to the Governor’s office.
