Overview
- About 2,000 seats for two‑year‑olds will open in September 2026 in School District 6 (Washington Heights/Inwood/Hamilton Heights), District 10 in the Bronx, Brooklyn’s Districts 18 and 23, and Queens’ District 27.
- New York State is funding $73 million for year one and up to $425 million for year two, and officials have not detailed how the program will be financed beyond that period.
- The city targets growth to roughly 12,000 seats by fall 2027, with rolling admissions in the first year to accommodate children who turn two between September and December.
- Officials say programs will primarily operate through existing child care centers and home‑based providers, and they have not committed that all offerings will be full‑day.
- City leaders cite workforce shortages, pay disparities, and space constraints as key hurdles; a workforce development effort is launching as Staten Island awaits inclusion in the next phase.