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Applications opened Tuesday for the inaugural year of New York City’s free childcare program for 2-year-olds.
Part of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s affordability campaign for free universal childcare, 2-K will for the first time in the city’s history offer free care for 2-year-olds regardless of their parents’ income. In 2024, parents of toddlers spent on average more than $23,000 for childcare at center-based programs, according to the city comptroller.
Families can apply on MySchools, the city Education Department’s online portal for school enrollment through June 26. Offers are expected Aug. 4.
The program kicks off in September with 2,000 seats clustered in several high-needs neighborhoods in every borough except Staten Island.
The program is set to expand to 12,000 seats next year, and Mamdani has pledged to bring it citywide by the end of his first term. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s funding commitment, however, only covers the first two years. The state is chipping in $73 million this year for 2-K and plans to spend $425 million next year.
Applications for 3-K and pre-K, which already closed, remained relatively flat compared to last year. But Mamdani is pulling out the stops to make sure families know about 2-K: He’s sponsoring a 2K for 2-K road race in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan this weekend to encourage parents to sign up. And he’s enlisted Cardi B to help judge a citywide 2-K jingle competition.
“It is not enough for [the] government to pat itself on the back and say, ‘We have a good program,’” Mamdani said at a kickoff press conference in Queens Tuesday. “People should find out about it.”
Here’s what parents need to know:
Who’s eligible?
Any child born in 2024 is eligible to apply, but, in most cases, they must be 2 years old to begin the program — meaning if the program starts Sept. 10, then kids whose birthdays fall after that date will likely have to wait to enroll. That’s different from the city’s free 3-K and pre-K programs, which allow kids to enroll before they turn 3 and 4, respectively, as long as their birthday is by Dec. 31.
Families of kids who turn 2 later this year are still encouraged to apply now, but may receive a “pending offer” to start after their child’s birthday, according to the Education Department.
Applications are open to families anywhere in the five boroughs, but kids living in one of the five districts where the initial 2,000 seats are rolling out will get priority for seats.
Families currently using a childcare voucher or receiving another form of childcare assistance are still eligible to apply to 2-K.
Where are the new seats located?
The 2,000 seats opening in September are located in five school districts:
District 6 in Manhattan, covering Washington Heights, Inwood, and Hamilton Heights
Districts 18 and 23 in Brooklyn, covering Canarsie, Brownsville, Ocean Hill, as well as parts of East Flatbush and Prospect Lefferts Gardens
District 10 in the Bronx covering Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Morris Heights, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village, and Kingsbridge
District 27 in Queens, covering Ozone and South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhavan, Howard Beach, and the Rockaways
The 2,000 seats are spread across a mix of 550 center- and family-based childcare providers who contract with the city.
What are the hours?
The default hours for 2-K will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 12 months a year. That marks a big shift from the model the city has used for 3-K and pre-K, where most seats are funded only from 8 a.m.-2:20 p.m. from September through June.
The extended day and year could save families thousands of additional dollars by erasing the costs of after-school and summer care.
Programs can still decide to offer a shorter schedule, officials have said.
Is 2-K open to students with disabilities?
Students with and without disabilities are welcome in 2-K programs, Education Department officials said.
Before the age of 3, toddlers and babies with disabilities can be identified for Early Intervention, which provides families with free services like speech and physical therapy that can take place in their preschools or at home. When students turn 3, their family can meet with a Committee on Preschool Special Education to get a recommendation for a specialized program.
Michael Elsen-Rooney is a reporter for Chalkbeat New York, covering NYC public schools. Contact Michael at [email protected].
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