Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani will unveil a plan to provide free child care for 2-year-olds in New York City, which officials describe as an expansion of universal pre-K. Hochul says she will fully fund the program’s first two years. The first year will focus on city-selected "high-need areas," with a planned citywide rollout by year four. Leaders framed the initiative as an early step toward making life more affordable for families and signaled an intent to pursue broader statewide action.
Hochul and Mayor Mamdani To Unveil Free Child Care Plan For 2-Year-Olds In NYC
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani answers a question from media after a press conference with New York Governor Kathy Hochul and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York City parents may soon be able to enroll their 2-year-olds in free child care after Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans to unveil a city expansion of early childhood services at a news conference Thursday morning.
The proposal is described by officials as an extension of the city’s universal pre-K program. A statement from the governor's office says Hochul will fully fund the first two years of the city’s new program. The rollout will target "high-need areas" in year one and is scheduled to expand citywide by the fourth year.
"There’s one thing that every family in New York can agree on: the cost of childcare is simply too high," Hochul said. "As New York’s first mother to serve as governor, fighting for New York’s families has always been at the core of my agenda."
"This victory represents much more than a triumph of city and state government working in partnership — it is proof that when New Yorkers come together, we can transform the way government serves working families," Mamdani said, calling the move an early fulfillment of a key campaign promise.
Officials say the first year will concentrate services in neighborhoods identified as having the greatest need, with a phased expansion intended to reach every borough by the fourth year. Hochul additionally pledged to pursue a broader, statewide free child care initiative beyond New York City.
What Comes Next: City and state leaders are expected to provide details at the Thursday briefing on eligibility, provider partnerships, funding mechanics and an implementation timeline.
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