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Page 14 - The Indian EYE 081426
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    North                       The Indian Eye

                              AMERICANNewsline

             14                                                                                                               AUGUST 14, 2026
                     Mayor Mamdani and Governor

               Hochul Extend 2-K Offers to More

                                         Than 2,000 Children

            Nearly three applications submitted for every available 2-K seat in the City’s inaugural program

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            inaugural seats are available at child
                                                                                                                  care centers and family child care
            NEW YORK, NY
                                                                                                                  homes  across  five  initial  school  dis-
                     ayor Zohran Kwame Mam-                                                                       tricts. The overwhelming response
                     dani and Governor Kathy                                                                      from families will help guide the ad-
            MHochul have announced                                                                                ministration’s continued expansion
            that more than 2,000 children are re-                                                                 of 2-K, including adding seats with-
            ceiving offers to join New York City’s                                                                in the first five districts in the years
            inaugural 2-K class. The Mayor and                                                                    ahead. By the end of Mayor Mam-
            Governor also announced that fol-                                                                     dani’s first term, every family in New
            lowing the City’s first-ever 2-K appli-                                                               York City that wants a 2-K seat will
            cation season, more than 5,700 fam-                                                                   have access to one.
            ilies applied for just over 2,000 seats                                                                   Since launching 2-K earlier this
            – clear evidence of the extraordinary                                                                 year, Mayor Mamdani has led an
            demand for free, universal child care                                                                 all-of-government campaign to en-
            across  the  five  boroughs.  Each  free                                                              sure families across the city knew
            2-K seat will save New York City fam-                                                                 about the opportunity and had the
            ilies an average of $26,000 a year.                                                                   resources they needed to apply. In
                Among families receiving initial                                                                  May, the Mayor announced the first
            offers,  82%  are  matched  with  one                                                                 batch of providers that would offer
            of their top three choices, and more                                                                  2-K seats. Days later, the Mayor
            than  half  are  receiving  their  first-                                                             and Governor joined students from
            choice program. 99% of all offers   NYC are applying for childcare for   seats in a classroom – they represent   Sheldon R. Weaver Child Care Cen-
            are to a program listed on a family’s   their  two-year-olds,  making  clear   peace of mind for parents, opportu-  ter on the Rockaway Beach Board-
            application. As Mayor Mamdani an-  that this is the kind of opportuni-  nity for children, and another step   walk to officially launch the applica-
            nounced earlier this year, the majority   ty that families have been waiting   toward making universal child care a   tion period.
            of seats will be full-day and full-year.  generations for,” Governor Hochul   reality for every New Yorker.”  As the application deadline ap-
               “The overwhelming demand       said. “Starting a family while work-  “We are giving our youngest   proached, Mayor Mamdani part-
            for 2-K shows what families across   ing full-time was nearly impossible   New Yorkers the high-quality ear-  nered with New York Road Run-
            the city have known for years: New   for me, which is why I’ve made it my   ly learning experiences that set the   ners to host a 2K for 2-K race in
            Yorkers need free, universal child   mission to make sure no parent has   foundation for a lifetime of success   Fort Tryon Park, encouraging fam-
            care, and they need it now,” said   to choose between their career and   in school and beyond,” said Schools   ilies to submit applications before
            Mayor Mamdani. “More than 5,700   their children. I’m proud to partner   Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “The   the deadline. Mayor Mamdani also
            families applied because affordable   with Mayor Mamdani in delivering   overwhelming response from fami-  partnered with Bronx-born rapper
            child care allows New York families   these first 2-K seats, and I’ll continue   lies shows just how urgently this pro-  Cardi B and Washington Heights na-
            to stay in the city they love. From our   putting New York on a path to uni-  gram is needed, and we’re excited to   tive Lin-Manuel Miranda to launch
            2K for 2-K race in Fort Tryon Park to   versal childcare, supporting families   welcome New York’s cutest and their   a 2-K jingle contest. Nearly 13,000
            building sandcastles with families in   across the state.”          families into our schools this fall.  New Yorkers voted to select Allegra
            the Rockaways, our administration    “When our kids have access to   We remain committed to working   Levy’s song, which was recorded in
            travelled across the city to ensure   the high-quality care and early learn-  alongside the Mayor and Governor   English and Spanish.
            families had the information they   ing we will see in 2-K classrooms   to grow 2-K until every family who   Families who did not receive an
            needed to apply. That’s how govern-  across  the  city, we  are giving  them   wants a seat has one.”   initial offer will be contacted direct-
            ment should work, and this is only   the strongest possible foundation   On the eighth day of his adminis-  ly with information about waitlist
            the beginning. Together with Gov-  for everything that comes next,” said   tration, Mayor Mamdani announced   options as additional seats become
            ernor Hochul, we’ll keep expanding   Emmy  Liss,  Executive Director  of   the creation of more than 2,000 free   available in the coming weeks. Fam-
            2-K until every family that wants a   the  Mayor’s  Office  of  Child  Care   2-K seats — the first program of its   ilies may continue to join 2-K wait-
            seat can get one.”                and Early Childhood Education.  kind in New York City history — in   lists, regardless of whether they ap-
               “Thousands of families across   “Today’s offers represent more than   partnership with Gov. Hochul. The   plied in June.

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