Bringing Universal Child Care to New York City: Mayor Mamdani is Delivering for New York’s Cutest in First 100 Days

NEW YORK - In his first 100 days in office, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has made sweeping progress toward universal, accessible child care, a central pillar of his affordability agenda, demonstrating what is possible when government prioritizes working families.

"Our movement is built on the belief that universal child care is essential infrastructure in a city that delivers for its people," said Mayor Mamdani. "Every dollar we invest in our children is an investment in a stronger, more equitable New York City - one where families can afford to stay and grow. When government acts with urgency and purpose, we can deliver real results for working families - and we're just getting started."

"Child care isn't just a service - it creates jobs, strengthens our economy and makes our city more affordable," said Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. "As a parent in New York City, I know how hard it can be to find reliable, affordable child care - and how transformational it is when you do. In the first 100 days, we've made serious progress toward building the systems families deserve."

"The progress we've made in early childhood education since January proves two things: there is a need for expansion and City support makes a real difference," said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. "Every child deserves access to a high-quality education from day one and we are committed to making that a reality. With the close collaboration between the Mamdani administration and New York City Public Schools, we're able to deliver meaningful changes for families across the city."

Launching 2-K

On day eight of the administration, Mayor Mamdani introduced 2-K in partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul, providing free child care for thousands of two-year-olds - a major step toward universal child care for children from six weeks to five years old.

Since then, the Mayor has:

• Announced a groundbreaking procurement process to bring new providers in to join 2-K, and for the first time in five years, expand participation in 3-K.
• Identified the first four communities to receive 2,000 2-K seats, with plans to expand to 12,000 seats across every borough next year and achieve full universality by the end of the first term.
• Launched a citywide jingle competition with Cardi B, to raise awareness ahead of the June 2 application opening.
• Established full-day, full-year programming, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 260 days a year, as the primary 2-K model to meet families' needs.

Expanding 3-K

Mayor Mamdani also announced an expansion of more than 1,000 new 3-K seats in 56 ZIP codes, strengthening and expanding the program.

• New seats will be added this fall in five ZIP codes in the Bronx, six on Staten Island, eight in Brooklyn, 16 in Manhattan and 21 in Queens.
• The opening of an early childhood center on the Upper East Side will meet longstanding demand in the neighborhood that went unmet under the previous administration.

Cutting Red Tape, Supporting Providers

The administration has moved to reduce bureaucratic barriers and better support child care providers:

• Launched a new online child care center provider permitting portal with the Health Department, replacing a fragmented system and making it easier to open child care centers.
• Engaged directly with providers to gather feedback and identify pathways to a more sustainable system.
• Visited 11 early childhood programs across all five boroughs, highlighting diverse care modes and recognizing educators and caregivers. Mamdani became the first Mayor to visit a home-based family child care provider.

Making Child Care More Accessible

To address longstanding confusion about available resources, the administration has introduced new tools and outreach efforts:

• Launched the New York City Parent Survey with Robin Hood and the New Practice Lab, giving families a direct role in shaping universal child care.
• Introduced a first-of-its-kind child care map and resource center to help families to find and compare programs. Since the launch on April 1, over 10,000 unique users have visited the site.
• Advanced the City's first free, on-site child care pilot program for municipal workers, with applications opening on April 30, 2026.
• Included $70 million in the preliminary budget for preschool special education to ensure continuity of services.

These efforts are part of a broader, coordinated outreach strategy to ensure families are aware of available programs. The campaign has included PSA-style videos, featuring community leaders such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a joint op-ed by the Mayor and Senator Elizabeth Warren, and multilingual advertising across LinkNYC kiosks, TaxiTV and City ferries.

In his first 100 days, Mayor Mamdani has made child care a central priority. The administration will continue expanding access, improving quality and supporting providers and families in the months and years to come.

"In just 100 days, Mayor Mamdani has made tremendous progress toward delivering universal and accessible child care, and the NYC Health Department is proud to play a collaborative role, working hand-in-hand with our sister agencies and offices to deliver on this promise for New York City families," said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. "From streamlining the child care permitting process to creating a first-of-its kind map helping families find a program that fits their needs, none of this could be possible without all of us working together towards a common goal: ensuring access to safe, quality, and culturally responsive child care. Together, the Mamdani administration is building a healthier, more equitable future for our children, where every family has the support they need to thrive."

"Child care is an essential support for families, enabling parents to work while ensuring their children are safe, nurtured, and able to thrive," said Administration for Children's Services Interim Commissioner Melissa Hester. "ACS remains committed to helping as many families as possible have access to child care, and we are grateful to Mayor Mamdani for delivering on this promise."

"This administration's recent launch of easy-to-use digital tools supporting families and child care providers illustrates our vision for using technology to make government services and benefits more accessible for the New Yorkers who need them most," said New York City Chief Technology Officer and Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner Lisa Gelobter.

"Accessible, reliable child care is essential to keeping New York City running, for both families and our city workforce that delivers critical services every day," said DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei. "DCAS is proud to support these efforts through our first free, on-site child care program at 1 Centre Street, a space that will help working parents better balance the demands of work and family life, while supporting a stronger and more resilient city workforce."

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