Governor Kathy Hochul, alongside NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, announced a plan to provide free child care for two-year-olds in New York City as part of a broader effort for universal child care for kids under five. Hochul said, "Since taking office, I’ve put families front and center, fighting to make our state more affordable and laying the groundwork to deliver universal childcare," with an $8 billion investment to expand child care and Pre-K access statewide, according to the Office of the Mayor.
The initiative also includes universal Pre-K access for four-year-olds by 2028-2029, expansion of 3K programs in NYC, and piloting new care models across the state, supported by the creation of an Office of Child Care and Early Education. Mayor Mamdani emphasized the collaboration, saying "it is proof that when New Yorkers come together, we can transform the way government serves working families," with the program expected to save families billions annually, as reported by the Office of the Mayor.
Hochul plans to expand workforce scholarships and use SUNY and CUNY to improve early childhood education programs. The child and dependent care tax credit will increase, potentially helping 230,000 tax filers. "As New York’s first mom Governor," she is working to make child care more accessible, as stated by the Office of the Mayor.
