Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced that the City has extended 99,921 offers for 3-K and Pre-K for the upcoming school year, with more families receiving offers to one of their top choice programs and average travel distances decreasing across the city.
On day eight of this Administration, Mayor Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the City's first steps toward universal child care, announcing the launch of 2-K, expansion of Pre-K and an aggressive focus on expanding 3-K access so families could find care in their own neighborhoods. Those efforts, made possible by a more than $1.2 billion investment from the state to support early childhood care and education, have already resulted in more families receiving offers to their preferred 3-K program and fewer families ending up on waitlists.
Fewer families this year received placements at programs they did not rank on their applications. For those 3-K families, the average distance between home and program decreased by .85 miles, or approximately 17 city blocks. That distance is expected to decrease further as families express interest in the additional 3-K seats added by the City, including more than 700 new seats announced yesterday that will be available through the waitlist process.
"Every child deserves a strong start, and every parent deserves to know their child has a safe, high-quality place to learn and grow," said Governor Hochul. "Today's announcement ensures more families are able to access the 3-K opportunities they want, and provides universal 3-K and Pre-K to 100,000 families across New York City, giving more parents access to affordable child care in their own communities and setting up the next generation for success. I'm proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani to deliver for New Yorkers across all five boroughs."
"Today's announcement marks a new era for child care in New York City - one where families can trust that government will deliver for them," said Mayor Mamdani. "Across the five boroughs, families are traveling shorter distances, more children are receiving offers to their top-choice programs, and fewer parents are being forced to choose between unaffordable private care and leaving the city they love. This is what government excellence looks like."
"Our young children are the future, and New York City's future just got brighter," said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. "I am deeply grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul for their leadership in this work, and the dedication of our community partners who ensure our families are seen, supported, and served. Because of this collective effort we are putting nearly 100,000 children on a path to success close to home."
This year, the percentage of families receiving their top 3-K choice increased from 65% to 70%, while the percentage receiving one of their top three 3-K choices increased from 80% to 84%.
While every family received a seat offer, the percentage of families receiving placements at programs not listed on their application decreased from 15% to 12%, helping ensure more families received offers they could realistically accept.
Last year, 720 families received 3-K offers outside their home borough, with most placements located more than three miles from home. This year, fewer than 200 families received out-of-borough offers, and all placements are within three miles from home. Many of those families will also have an opportunity to receive an close-to-home placements through the waitlist process following the more than 700 newly available 3-K seats.
These historic gains follow the administration's first steps to rebuild the City's child care outreach system and reach families too often left behind by government. That work will continue through the Mamdani administration's commitment to baseline $5 million annually for outreach and engagement. The administration has also committed new funding to strengthen agency staffing and provide more comprehensive support for families and providers.
In April, the Mayor joined New York City public school students to open seven previously vacant child care sites, creating 240 new 3-K seats. That announcement followed the administration's addition of more than 1,000 new 3-K seats across 56 zip codes, now more than 2,000, as well as the opening of a previously vacant child care center on the Upper East Side. Yesterday, Mayor Mamdani announced that the City had doubled those efforts, adding 2,000 3-K seats across all five boroughs and confirming that the City's ninth new child care center will open this fall in Columbia Waterfront.
The offers extended today are preliminary. Families will have the opportunity to express interest in additional programs over the coming weeks.
"We all know the value of a quality early childhood education. No parent who has ever enrolled their child has been disappointed by the outcome. Investing in this 3k expansion will prove just how transformative each dollar spent on early childhood can be for that child and their family. Our communities deserve these meaningful investments. I am so glad that Mayor Mamdani has charged everyday of his administration with advancing this priority and backed up his promises. I also applaud Governor Hochul for her commitment and partnership with our city to get us closer to universal childcare," said City Council Early Childhood Education Chair Jennifer Gutiérrez.
"As the father of two young children, I know how much there is to worry about as a new parent and how especially scary the cost of childcare is. Worrying about childcare should not be front of mind for parents juggling doctors' visits and what's for dinner. I'm thankful that Mayor Mamdani is doubling 3-K seats in Jackson Heights and delivering 75 new seats," said Council Member Shekar Krishnan. "Childcare is the foundation of a more affordable New York City, and with Mayor Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, we now have a city and state government that prioritizes affordability for New York families."
"Universal childcare only works if families can actually access the programs that fit their lives," said New York City Council Member Gale A. Brewer. "The availability of nearly 100,000 Pre K and 3 K offers will help more families receive one of their top choices and reduce travel distances for parents and children across the city. That matters for working families and for the long-term success of Pre K and 3 K. This is a major achievement, and the administration has continued to strengthen the matching process and improve access for families navigating one of the most important decisions for their children."
"As a new mom, I know firsthand how the cost of childcare can weigh on working families, and determine their ability to stay in our great city. If we want to keep children and their parents here, it is critical that we deliver affordable childcare and early education to every child. This expansion will provide relief to many families and ensure future generations receive quality early education. I thank the Mayor and the Governor for their commitment," said Council Member Kayla Santosuosso.
"As a mother of two young children, I know how important it is for families to have access to reliable, high-quality early childhood education. Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul expanding 3-K citywide will help ensure every child-regardless of their ZIP code-has the strong start they deserve. Too many families still struggle to find affordable early learning options they can count on, and investing in 3-K is an investment in our children's future and our city's future," said Assemblymember Emérita Torres.
"As a mother of a three-year-old thriving in 3-K, I've seen firsthand how powerful early childhood education can be for families," said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. "I'm proud that so many across our city are gaining access to these critical programs. I applaud Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his bold leadership and unwavering commitment to expanding early childhood education and delivering real results for working families, and I commend Governor Kathy Hochul for her strong partnership and decisive investment in making this transformative expansion a reality."
"At this time last year, we were fighting to keep 3-K alive - while thousands of parents couldn't get the 3-K seats they were counting on, forcing them to draw down their savings to afford private care. This year couldn't be more different. Thanks to Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul's commitment to investing in and expanding 3-K, thousands of families can rest easy, knowing they can get a seat that works for them. This is what it looks like when parents stand together and speak up for their needs - and when a Mayor truly listens," said Rebecca Bailin, Executive Director of New Yorkers United for Child Care.
"The City's high-quality universal Pre-K and 3-K programs have helped New York children develop in a nurturing, supportive, and educational environment while allowing parents to breathe a little easier and afford a higher quality of life. Today's announcement means that more families will have access to that support, and that settlement houses and other child care providers will be able to support children in their own neighborhoods. We thank Mayor Mamdani for embracing the vision of universal 3-K and child care, and Governor Hochul for investing the resources to make this happen," said Nora Moran, Director of Policy and Advocacy, United Neighborhood Houses.
"The 5BORO Institute at Citizens Union has long documented what today's announcement begins to address: for too long, families have struggled to find affordable child care, costing the city billions in lost economic activity and lost tax revenue. Today's 3-K expansion is a critical step toward reversing that trend. We know that in neighborhoods with access to 3-K, maternal employment rates rose and remained higher even after children exited the program. The business case is clear: invest in early childhood education in every neighborhood, keep families in New York, and all New Yorkers will benefit from a growing economy," said Grace Rauh, Executive Director of Citizens Union.
