Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 25 - The Indian EYE 031326
P. 25

    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                MARCH 13, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 25

                NYC to Launch Free 2-K Child Care

                          in Four Communities This Fall

                  More than 2,000 seats will be introduced as part of a broader push toward universal child care

                                                         for families across New York City.

            OUR BUREAU
            New York, NY
                   ew York City will launch free child care for
                   two-year-olds in four communities this fall
            Nas part of a new push to expand universal
            early childhood education, city and state officials
            announced this week.
                Zohran Mamdani and Kathy Hochul said the
            first phase of the city’s 2-K program will provide
            more than 2,000 free seats beginning in September
            2026, marking what officials described as a major
            step toward universal child care for children from
            six weeks to five years old.
                The program will initially roll out in four com-
            munities covering parts of Manhattan, the Bronx,
            Brooklyn and Queens, targeting neighborhoods
            where families face the greatest barriers to access-
            ing affordable child care. Officials said the selected
            districts include Washington Heights, Inwood and
            Hamilton Heights in Manhattan; several Bronx
            neighborhoods including Fordham, Belmont, Nor-
            wood and Riverdale; communities such as Canarsie,
            Brownsville and Ocean Hill in Brooklyn; and areas
            of Queens including Ozone Park, Richmond Hill,  eventually providing access to every two-year-old   Brad Hoylman-Sigal said the program would ease
            Woodhaven, Howard Beach and the Rockaways.   in New York.                                  the burden on families in Northern Manhattan,
                The new seats are part of a broader initiative   City  education  officials  said  the  expansion   where child care costs remain a major concern.
            by the Mamdani administration to expand early  builds on existing early childhood programs such as   Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.
            childhood care and reduce the financial burden on  pre-K and 3-K. Kamar Samuels, New York City’s   described the rollout in District 27 as a significant
            working families. The program will provide free  Schools Chancellor, said the initiative aims to cre-  step toward addressing long-standing disparities in
            child care to any eligible family regardless of in-  ate a system that reaches families with the greatest   access to early education.
            come, zip code or immigration status, officials said.  need while gradually expanding access citywide.  Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reyno-
                “Raising a child takes a village — and it takes   “The launch of 2-K reflects our commitment   so said communities such as Canarsie and Browns-
            a city government willing to step up and tackle the  to reaching families with the greatest need and   ville  would  benefit  from  targeted  investment  in
            child care crisis head-on,” Mamdani said while  building a system that grows to serve every child in   early childhood programs. “This is exactly the type
            announcing the initiative. “Launching free 2-K in  every community,” Samuels said. “We are opening   of visionary change New Yorkers have demanded,”
            these four neighborhoods is just the beginning of  the doors for thousands of two-year-olds and their   Reynoso said.
            our work to put money back in New Yorkers’ pock-  families,  delivering  free,  full-day  care  and early   Advocacy groups and parents also praised the
            ets, strengthen our entire economy and help more  learning and paving the way for bright futures.”  announcement. Murad Awawdeh, president and
            families build their lives here.”                Supporters of universal child care say the pro-  CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said
                State support has been critical to the program’s  gram could ease one of the largest financial pres-  the program represents an important step toward
            launch. Earlier this year, Hochul committed more  sures facing families in the city, where the cost of   ensuring that families across the city — including
            than $1.2 billion toward early childhood care and  private day care can reach thousands of dollars per   immigrant households — can access high-quality
            education programs in New York City, including  month. Advocates argue that affordable child care   child care.
            $73 million dedicated to funding the first set of 2-K  also helps strengthen the labor force by allowing   “With the promise of free child care for two-
            seats. That funding is expected to rise to $425 mil-  parents to return to work, pursue education or   year-olds, New York City is ushering in a new era,”
            lion next year as the program expands.       launch businesses.                            Awawdeh said.
                “Raising a family in New York shouldn’t feel   New York State Assembly Speaker Carl       Parent groups say the program could provide
            like a luxury,” Hochul said. “This is how we make  Heastie said the initiative could have broad eco-  significant  financial  relief  for  families  who  have
            New York the best place to start a family and build  nomic  benefits.  “Affordable,  reliable  childcare  is   struggled to secure affordable child care. Suz Kro-
            a future — and we’re just getting started.”  essential for families as they maneuver their day   eber, a parent in Washington Heights, said the
                The first phase will serve more than 2,000 chil-  to day,” Heastie said, adding that early education   availability of 2-K seats could make a major differ-
            dren this fall, with plans to expand the program  programs help more residents enter or re-enter the   ence for households planning their finances.
            significantly over the next four years. By fall 2027,  workforce.                             “Instead of pinching every penny just to cover
            the initiative is expected to reach roughly 12,000   Other local leaders welcomed the selection of   daycare, we can start thinking about saving for col-
            children across the city, with the long-term goal of  the  first  districts.  Manhattan  Borough  President   lege or retirement,” she said.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 |