NEW YORK - Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced that, beginning this fall, most 2-K seats will operate on a full-day and full-year schedule - a major step toward delivering truly universal child care and confronting New York City's affordability crisis.
Representing a majority of the first 2,000 2-K seats available this fall - and setting the standard for future expansion - the program will run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 260 days a year, replacing the traditional 180-day school calendar. The shift reflects the Mamdani administration's commitment to aligning early childhood education with the realities facing working families and reducing the need for costly, patchwork child care.
"For many families working nine to five, an eight to three program isn't going to cut it. For too long, parents have been forced to choose between their livelihood and their children, or to drain their savings just to make it through the workday. That ends now," said Mayor Mamdani. "Universal child care must meet the real lives of working people. That begins with full-year, full-day 2-K."
"New York City Public Schools have always been the backbone of our communities, and 2-K is our opportunity to support families even earlier in their child's life," said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. "This is a historic moment, and I am proud to partner with Mayor Mamdani to build an early child care and education system that is truly universal, equitable, and tailored around the real needs of the families we serve."
The 2-K rollout is part of the Mayor's broader push to guarantee child care for all New Yorkers with children ages six weeks to five years. As part of that effort, families are encouraged to help shape the program's future by completing the NYC Parent Survey, supported by Robin Hood, at nyc.gov/ParentSurvey.
As the city prepares to welcome its first 2-K families, the Mamdani administration has begun notifying contracted providers that expressed interest in offering seats this fall. Additional providers that responded to the City's groundbreaking RFI will be notified in the coming weeks.
To ensure flexibility and sustainability, providers may still offer a 2-K program aligned to the school calendar, and full-day and full-year care is not a requirement for a family to accept a seat.
As the Mayor reaches his 100th day in office, the Administration has already taken significant steps towards universal child care. On Day 8, Mayor Mamdani joined Governor Hochul to announce a historic $1.2 billion investment in Pre-K and 3-K. The Mayor subsequently announced an additional 1,000 new 3-K seats to meet demand and expedited the opening of an Upper East Side early childhood education center after the previous administration stalled its launch.
In March, Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul announced the first four communities to receive free 2-K seats. Communities in five school districts will get access to over 2,000 free seats this fall. The Mayor also joined Bronx-born rapper Cardi B to announce a citywide 2-K application jingle. Submissions to the 2-K jingle contest can be made at nyc.gov/jingle. Submissions must be received by Friday, April 17, 2026. Full entry rules and guidelines are available at nyc.gov/jingle.
In addition, the Mayor recently announced a first-of-its-kind child care provider map and online resource hub, designed to make it easier for families to find care and understand the options available to them, and the City's first free child care program pilot for municipal workers.
