The mayor and the governor announced that New York City will broaden its free childcare program to include 2‑year‑old children in 22 neighborhoods beginning in 2027, with the rollout aimed at serving roughly 12,000 children.
The expansion builds on the city’s universal pre‑K initiative, which already offers free early‑childhood education to 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds, and will add a new tier for younger children.
The New York City Department of Education will manage the implementation of the program across the designated neighborhoods.