Free childcare is expanding across Staten Island. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced the plans. Starting in fall 2027, the 2-K program will cover all of Staten Island and the Bronx, plus select districts in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. The expansion adds 10,000 seats to the full-day, year-round program for 2-year-olds, which began with 2,000 seats earlier this year. The state is backing the expansion with a $1.2 billion investment. Seats per district will depend on provider participation and anticipated family demand.
