CYPRESS HILLS, Brooklyn (WABC) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels celebrated the opening day of 3-K, and applications for Pre-K on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Mayor Mamdani says the goal is free childcare for every child in New York. It’s a goal he has promised to achieve by the end of his first term, but he told reporters on Wednesday that preschool for 3 and 4-year-olds is widely available, and he is urging parents to apply for it.<\/p>\n
“The past administration sought to not only cut funding for the program, but also to cut outreach and advertising about early childhood education as well. The consequences were stark,” Mamdani said. “Thousands of empty seats, especially in the parts of the city with higher numbers of immigrant and low-income families who stood to benefit the most.”<\/p>\n
The program is open to all children turning ages 3 or 4, and the application deadline is February 27. Parents can enroll by calling 718-935-2009 or online at myschools.nyc<\/a>.<\/p>\n “We are guaranteeing every single parent a seat when they apply for this,” Mamdani said. “And we are doing the work to make sure that those seats will be far closer than they have been in the past.”<\/p>\n The mayor and the governor announced last week that a program called “2-Care” will offer free childcare to 2-year-olds. The city’s 3-K program will be strengthened, and childcare subsidies will be expanded.<\/p>\n The 2-Care program will be fully phased in over four years, starting with 2,000 children in the city’s neediest neighborhoods.<\/p>\n In her State of the State speech on Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul reaffirmed her commitment to childcare in New York.<\/p>\n “Five days ago, I stood with Mayor Mamdani to announce the state will fully fund the first two years of his Universal 2-Care program while also helping New York City realize the full promise of Universal 3-K,” Hochul said.<\/p>\n ———-<\/p>\n * Get Eyewitness News Delivered<\/a> <\/p>\n * More New York City news<\/a><\/p>\n * Send us a news tip<\/a><\/p>\n * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts<\/a> <\/p>\n * Follow us on YouTube<\/a> <\/p>\n
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News<\/p>\n