Page 23 - The Indian EYE 011626

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JANUARY 16, 2026 | The Indian Eye 23

Mayor Mamdani & Governor Hochul to Launch

Free Child Care for Two-Year-Olds in NYC

All Four-Year-Old Children in New York State to Have Pre-K Access by the 2028-29 School Year

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
ew York Governor Kathy Ho-
chul has announced an un-
Nprecedented new investment
aimed at delivering affordable, uni-
versal child care for children under
the age of five across New York State.
As part of the next phase of this effort,
the Governor will partner with New
York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to
offer free child care for two-year-olds
in New York City, while strengthen-
ing the city’s existing 3-K program to
achieve truly universal access and ulti-
mately serve all families.
Beginning in 2026, the state
will continue expanding access to
high-quality child care statewide
through a range of delivery models, a
move expected to save New York fam- victory represents much more than a mum allowed under federal law—85 need neighborhoods and expand
ilies billions of dollars each year. Since triumph of city and state government percent of the statewide median in- citywide by year four. At the same
taking office, Governor Hochul has working in partnership—it is proof come. For most families receiving time, the state will work with the city
already invested more than $8 billion that when New Yorkers come togeth- subsidies, weekly child care costs are to strengthen and stabilize the 3-K
in child care infrastructure, laying the er, we can transform the way govern- now capped at $15. program to ensure it delivers univer-
foundation for the statewide imple- ment serves working families.” The state has also increased re- sal access as originally intended.
mentation of universal child care. As part of her State of the State imbursement rates for providers by Beyond New York City, the
“There’s one thing that every fam- agenda, Governor Hochul’s invest- nearly 50 percent, supporting work- Governor will launch innovative pi-
ily in New York can agree on, the cost ments will deliver affordable child force retention and quality care, and lot programs in counties ready to
of childcare is simply too high,” Gov- care to nearly 100,000 additional chil- committed more than $150 million expand child care access. These pi-
ernor Hochul said. “As New York’s dren. The plan includes making Pre-K in capital funding to support the cre- lots will support universal, full-day,
first mom Governor, fighting for New truly universal statewide, partnering ation of thousands of new child care year-round care through partnerships
York’s families has always been at the with New York City to launch the may- seats and centers. among counties, local child care enti-
core of my agenda. Since taking office, or’s signature 2-Care program while A major pillar of the plan is ties, and the state.
I’ve put families front and center, fight- fulfilling the promise of universal 3-K achieving truly universal Pre-K. While To coordinate these efforts, the
ing to make our state more affordable access, supporting other counties in many districts already offer Pre-K for new Office of Child Care and Early
and laying the groundwork to deliver developing child care pilots regardless four-year-olds, dozens still lack access. Education will oversee Pre-K, 3-K,
universal childcare. Today, I’m proud of income, and expanding child care Governor Hochul is committing ad- 2-Care, subsidy expansion, workforce
to partner with Mayor Mamdani and subsidies to tens of thousands of fam- ditional funding to ensure universal support, and innovative care models
leaders across our state to make this a ilies. Alongside these initiatives, the Pre-K statewide by the start of the statewide. Workforce development
reality, turning that foundation into a Governor will establish a new Office 2028–2029 school year. The state will will include expanded scholarships,
concrete roadmap that will transform of Child Care and Early Education to fund new seats while increasing sup- exploration of new Workforce Pell
the lives of working parents and kids oversee implementation. port for existing ones, raising per-pu- grants, and steps by SUNY and
across our state.” The announcement builds on pil funding to the greater of $10,000 CUNY to streamline early childhood
Mayor Mamdani said the an- substantial progress already made or the district’s current foundation education programs.
nouncement represents the fulfill- under Governor Hochul’s leadership. aid rate. This roughly $500 million Governor Hochul will also ex-
ment of a growing grassroots de- In just four years, the state has more commitment is designed to ensure pand and simplify the child and de-
mand for affordability and dignity than doubled the number of children every child enters kindergarten ready pendent care tax credit, providing an
for working families. “Over the past served by child care vouchers, with to learn. average additional benefit of $575
14 months, a movement was born nearly a 25 percent increase in the In New York City, the state will to 230,000 tax filers, and review em-
to fight for a city where every New past year alone. New York has invest- partner with the Mamdani admin- ployer tax incentives to better support
Yorker could afford a life of dignity ed more than $8.6 billion in child care, istration to launch 2-Care, an un- working families’ child care needs.
and every family could afford to raise including more than doubling fund- precedented program offering free Together, the initiatives mark the
their kids,” he said. “Today, Gover- ing for subsidies. Eligibility has been child care for two-year-olds. Gover- most ambitious child care expansion
nor Hochul and I meet that move- dramatically expanded by raising the nor Hochul will fully fund the first in New York’s history, positioning
ment as we celebrate our joint com- income threshold from 200 percent of two years of implementation. The universal child care as a cornerstone
mitment to universal child care. This the federal poverty level to the maxi- program will initially focus on high- of the state’s affordability agenda.

www.TheIndianEYE.com