New York City parents could soon have access to free child care for their 2-year-olds under a new partnership announced Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Speaking at the Flatbush YMCA in Brooklyn, Hochul and Mamdani outlined the first phase of a plan to make child care universal statewide, with the governor committing to fully funding the program’s first two years in the five boroughs. The announcement was tied to her 2026 State of the State agenda.

What You Need To Know

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday introduced a program that would give New York City parents access to free child care for their 2-year-olds

For Mamdani, the announcement marks the first major policy move of his new administration and delivers on a key campaign promise centered on affordability 

Hochul said the city’s rollout is part of a larger push to make child care universal statewide

“Today, we’re working together with the mayor at this incredible place to announce the first major steps to make child care universal, truly universal, here in New York City,” Hochul said, calling the effort “transformative” for families.

Hochul said child care costs in New York can range from $26,000 to $40,000 a year, which she said is far too expensive for many working families.

“That’s double the cost of a SUNY or CUNY college education,” she said. “I mean, think about that. Like, ‘OK, I can either take care of my child or pay for college someday?’ What are we talking about here?”

Under the plan, the city will expand its existing early childhood education system by offering free care for 2-year-olds, building on its universal pre-K and 3-K programs.

The first year of the program will start in “high-need areas” chosen by the city. It will then gradually expand across all five boroughs by its fourth year, according to Hochul’s office.

Hochul said the state will show its commitment by funding the program in the next two budget cycles.

For Mamdani, the announcement marks the first major policy move of his new administration and delivers on a key campaign promise centered on affordability.

“Today, we take one step to realizing a city where every New Yorker, every family, every child can afford to keep calling it their home,” Mamdani said. “To those who doubt the power of the people to make their own destiny, to the cynics who insist that politics is too broken to deliver meaningful change — today is your answer.”

Mamdani said the city will work closely with child care providers, especially home-based providers, to add more seats in neighborhoods where demand has long exceeded supply.

“No longer will a family in Flatbush be offered a seat, but have to find out that that seat is in Astoria,” he said. “We will add seats in the neighborhoods where demand has not been met.”

He said the expansion will include children with disabilities and children living in shelters. He also said families could save more than $20,000 per child each year.

Hochul said the city’s rollout is part of a larger push to make child care universal statewide.

As part of that effort, Hochul also announced a $470 million investment to help support universal pre-K statewide, with the goal of making it available to every 4-year-old in New York by 2028.