Norwood & School District 10 Among First for Free Childcare This Fall

By SÍLE MOLONEY

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks to Norwood News about safety in childcare facilities during a visit to the early childhood center located on the campus of Bronx Community College in the University Heights section of The Bronx on Friday, March 6, 2026 in the context of his administration’s roll-out of a 2K childcare program later this year in certain designated areas of the City. The mayor is seen interacting with the kids and was later presented with some of their artwork, which he said he would hang in his office. Video by Síle Moloney

*The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.

In what was described as a major step toward universal childcare for children aged six weeks to five years of age, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced March 3 the first four communities to receive free 2-K seats this fall, and included among them is The Bronx’s School District 10, which covers   Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Marble Hill, Morris Heights, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village and Kingsbridge as well as parts of Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Mount Hope, Claremont- Bathgate & East Tremont

 

City officials said the 2-K program is a cornerstone of the mayor’s universal childcare initiative and will provide free childcare for two-year-olds in New York City to any family who needs it, regardless of zip code, income or immigration status. They said the program will launch with 2,000 free seats this fall and expand to full universality within four years.

 

They said earlier this year, the governor committed more than $1.2 billion to support early childhood care and education in New York City, including $73 million to fund the first set of free 2-K seats. State officials said that investment will grow to $425 million next year, and by fall 2027, 2-K is expected to serve around 12,000 children across all five boroughs, with the goal of reaching every two-year-old in the city at full implementation.

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks to Norwood News about safety in childcare facilities during a visit to the early childhood center located on the campus of Bronx Community College in the University Heights section of The Bronx on Friday, March 6, 2026 in the context of his administration’s roll-out of a 2K childcare program later this year in certain designated areas of the City. Norwood News asked the mayor if he wanted to give his reaction to the recent sentencing on State charges of Grei Mendez, 38, manager of the now closed El Divino Niño daycare center on Morris Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, The Bronx, and her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, 37, in relation to the death of one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici, who died on Sept. 15, 2023 at the daycare, where an underground fentanyl operation was being run. V2  Video by Síle Moloney

“Raising a child takes a village – and it takes a city government willing to step up and tackle the childcare crisis head-on,” said the mayor. “On Day 8, we moved closer to making universal childcare a reality. This fall, 2,000 New York City two-year-olds will have a brighter future because of it. Launching free 2-K in these four neighborhoods is just the beginning of our work to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, strengthen our entire economy and help more families build their lives here.”

 

For her part, the governor, a mother and grandmother, said raising a family in New York shouldn’t feel like a luxury. “Today, we’re taking another significant step to deliver universal childcare. Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani and I stood together to announce the state’s historic investment in New York City’s 2-K program,” she said in part. “This is how we make New York the best place to start a family and build a future – and we’re just getting started.”

 

Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said the launch of 2-K reflects the city administration’s commitment to reaching families with the greatest need and building a system that grows to serve every child in every community. 

“We are opening the doors for thousands of two-year-olds and their families, delivering free, full-day care and early learning and paving the way for bright futures from our students’ earliest ages,” he said.

 

State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie welcomed the news, saying New Yorkers had witnessed a significant rise in the cost of quality childcare, which put immense stress on families. “Affordable, reliable childcare is essential for families as they maneuver their day to day, making today’s 2-K announcement a step in the right direction,” he said.

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani talks to Norwood News about safety in childcare facilities during a visit to the early childhood center located on the campus of Bronx Community College in the University Heights section of The Bronx on Friday, March 6, 2026 in the context of his administration’s roll-out of a 2K childcare program later this year in certain designated areas of the City. V3 Video by Síle Moloney

“Initiatives like Universal 2-K and similarly 3-K [enable] more community members to enter or re-enter the workforce, launch businesses, and sustain employment,” he added, thanking the mayor, governor, and the legislature for their efforts. “When we work together, we bring forth positive change, keeping the families of New York first,” he said.

 

For her part, Council Speaker Julie Menin, also a parent, said the initial launch of 2-K in neighborhoods across the city was a critical next step toward full universal childcare, and also thanked the governor and mayor for what she described as their leadership in moving the initiative forward.

 

“Together with the City Council, we are expanding opportunity for our youngest New Yorkers and delivering real support for working families across our city,” she said. “I have long championed universal childcare as essential to making New York more affordable and equitable. From advancing the council’s Universal Childcare Act in 2022 to advocating for the opening of a new early education center on the East Side of Manhattan, we are laying the groundwork to lead the nation on childcare.”

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits Bronx Community College Early Childhood Center, located at 2155 University Avenue in the University Heights section of The Bronx, on Friday, March 6, 2026 to highlight that School District 10, which covers Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Marble Hill, Morris Heights, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village and Kingsbridge as well as parts of Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Mount Hope, Claremont- Bathgate & East Tremont, is one of the four initial NYC school districts that will receive free 2-K childcare seats this fall.
Photo by Síle Moloney

Local Councilman, and another parent, Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), also welcomed the news, saying, “Expanding access to free, high-quality early education is one of the smartest investments we can make as a city.” Dinowitz, chair of the education committee, added, “I’m proud that District 10 is among the first communities to receive 2-K seats this fall. Universal childcare strengthens working families, supports our youngest learners at a critical stage of development, and helps ensure that a child’s zip code, income level, or immigration status never determines their opportunity.”

 

He said he looked forward to working with the administration and local providers to make sure the rollout was strong, equitable, and delivered for Bronx families.

 

Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of New York Immigration Coalition, said in part, “Access to childcare allows New York families, local communities, and our city’s economy to function. Children – regardless of immigration status – need access to nurturing and quality care to thrive, while families rely on childcare to allow them the freedom to work, go to school, and so much more.”

 

Meanwhile, Rebecca Bailin, executive director of New Yorkers United for Child Care, said the announcement demonstrated a clear commitment to tackling New York City’s affordability crisis. “Thousands of parents throughout the city can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing they will save tens of thousands of dollars each year once their child turns two,” she said. “This announcement is also a testament to the power of organizing. Parents and would-be parents, desperate to build a city they can afford to raise their families in, came together to demand free childcare for two-year-olds and now, we’re seeing that vision become reality.”

 

Suz Kroeber, parent leader with New Yorkers United for Child Care and a mom of two in Washington Heights, said, “When our oldest was ready for 3-K last year, we couldn’t get a seat, and we had to literally pay the price for it with private day care.”

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani is presented with some artwork made by the students at Bronx Community College Early Childhood Center, located at 2155 University Avenue in University Heights, The Bronx, on Friday, March 6, 2026, during his visit to highlight that School District 10 is one of the four initial NYC school districts that will receive free 2-K childcare seats this fall.
Photo by Síle Moloney

She said this year, things were completely different. “Mayor Mamdani’s administration has shown up for parents in a way we haven’t seen in years,” she said. “Applying for Pre-K was easier, and knowing that 2-K will be there in our neighborhood when our youngest turns two will be a game changer. Instead of pinching every penny just to cover daycare, we can start thinking about saving for college or retirement. All we want to do is raise our kids in New York City. 2-K makes that possible.”

 

The initial four communities were selected based on economic need, projected childcare demand, existing access gaps, provider capacity and readiness. These first 2,000 seats are designed to serve families in high-need neighborhoods while ensuring programs launch responsibly and sustainably, with inclusive access for children with disabilities and families in temporary housing, including shelters.

 

Services will begin in September 2026, with rolling enrollment throughout the fall to accommodate children turning two at different points in the year. In the coming days, the City will begin planning efforts with childcare centers and family childcare providers in these four communities. Additional details on participating providers will be released in the weeks ahead.

 

The other three communities are School District 6, which covers Washington Heights, Inwood and Hamilton Heights as well as parts of Manhattanville, School Districts 18 and 23, covering Canarsie, Rugby-Remsen Village, Brownsville and Ocean Hill as well as parts of East Flatbush- Farragut and Prospect Lefferts Garden-Wingate, and School District 27, which covers Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach and Rockaways as well as parts Lindenwood and Springfield Gardens North.

THE PARENTS OF the late Nicholas Feliz Dominici, 1, Otoniel Feliz Samboy and Zoila Dominici, accompanied by Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, right, front row,  and Council Member Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14), second from right, second row, carry a large framed photo of Nicholas as they leave Bronx Criminal Court to address the media on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, after Grei Mendez, the former manager of now-closed El Divino Niño daycare center, located on Morris Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights, and her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, were each sentenced to 25 years to life for State charges arising from the accidental death of Nicholas from a fentanyl overdose at the daycare center, which had been used as a base for an underground drug operation, on Sept. 15, 2023. Assistant District Attorney Karl Miller, back row, right, is also pictured. 
Photo courtesy of Enid Alvarez / Office of the Bronx District Attorney

To highlight the announcement, Mamdani paid a visit on Friday, March 6, to the Bronx Community College Early Childhood Center located at 2155 University Avenue in the University Heights section of The Bronx. Arriving, armed with two gold “2” and “K” helium balloons, Mamdani played with the children for a while, and was later presented with a piece of their artwork which he said he would hang in his office. Later, the mayor spoke to Norwood News one on one on the topic of childcare.

 

Given the sentencing, as reported, on State charges two days earlier of Grei Mendez, the daycare manager of the now closed El Divino Niño daycare center on Morris Avenue in the Kingsbridge Heights section of The Bronx, and her husband, Felix Herrera Garcia, in relation to the unintentional death of one-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici at the daycare in September 2023, due to a fentanyl overdose, Norwood News asked the mayor if he wanted to say anything on the topic of safety at daycare centers or to Nicholas’s parents.

 

As reported, four children were poisoned from exposure to fentanyl at the daycare, including Nicholas. Three survived after all four were administered Narcan, which typically reverses the effects of an overdose. The overdoses exposed the fact that an underground fentanyl drug operation was being run out of the daycare location.

 

“I think what I would say is we are focused on the safety [and] wellbeing of every single child across our city,” he said. “It’s the cornerstone of everything that we do, and even today, when we’re here to speak about the expansion of universal childcare in our city, we do so knowing that we are looking to deliver high quality, safe childcare for every single family, and so as part of increasing access, and part of tackling an affordability crisis, it’s also a focus on ensuring this is the very kind of environment that any family will feel safe sending their child to.”

 

On June 27, 2024, as reported, Bronx daycare provider, Silfredo Castillo Martinez, then 32, who ran a daycare on Decatur Avenue in Norwood was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of a child and for producing child pornography with a minor victim who was under his watch at the daycare center, Lina’s Garden Daycare. Castillo Martinez had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

NICOLAS FELIZ DOMINICI, Nov. 17, 2021-Sept. 15, 2023
Photo courtesy of the family of Nicholas Feliz Dominici

In light of recent press conferences held by the mayor in which he talked at length about a funding gap in the City’s budget and the options available to address the gap, we asked him if he was confident there would be sufficient money to fund the announced free childcare program. Mamdani responded, saying, “Yes, and we are absolutely confident in the promise we’re making to New Yorkers, which is that we’re going to serve 2,000 children by the end of this year, 12,000 children by the end of next year, and then before providing any seat for every single 2-year-old by the end of Year 4.”

 

He added, “This is part of what it means to deliver universal childcare in our city and to be here, in District 10 in The Bronx, is one of many school districts that we’re delivering these 2,000 seats to here, it’s a chance for a family no matter their income, their profession, their immigration status, to take what would otherwise be more than a $20,000 a year expense off of their back, and make it that much easier to live in this City.

 

On the first anniversary of Nicholas’ death, Nicholas Feliz Dominici Way was unveiled in his memory at Kingsbridge Terrace and East Kingsbridge Road in the his native Kingsbridge Heights. It followed prior remembrance services. For more on the case, click here.

 

As reported, the city council recently passed laws sponsored by Council Member Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14) relating to daycare inspection training and laws on informing parents of their rights around childcare programs.

 

Meanwhile, State senate bill S6226, sponsored by State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), which also stemmed from Nicholas’s death, and which was carried in the Assembly under bill number A1382 by Brooklyn Assemblymember Amy Paulin (A.D. 88), passed in a previous legislative session, as reported, and both have since been signed into law by  Gov. Kathy Hochul.