In a major step toward universal child care from six weeks to five years old, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday, March 3, announced the first four communities that will receive free 2-K seats this fall.

The four communities are: School District 6: Washington Heights, Inwood and Hamilton Heights, as well as parts of Manhattanville; School District 10: 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; School Districts 18 and 23: 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: Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach and Rockaways, as well as parts Lindenwood and Springfield Gardens North.

First announced on day eight of the Mamdani administration alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul, 2-K is a cornerstone of the Mayor’s universal child care initiative.

The mayor said the program will provide free child care for two-year-olds in New York City to any family who needs it, regardless of zip code, income or immigration status.

He said the program will launch with 2,000 free seats this fall and expand to full universality within four years.

Earlier this year, Hochul 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.

The mayor said that investment will grow to $425 million next year.

By fall 2027, Mamdani said 2-K is expected to serve about 12,000 children across all five boroughs, with the goal of reaching every two-year-old in the city at full implementation.

“Raising a child takes a village – and it takes a city government willing to step up and tackle the child care crisis head-on,” said Mayor Mamdani. “On day eight, 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,” he added.

“Raising a family in New York shouldn’t feel like a luxury, and today we’re taking another significant step to deliver universal child care,” said Gov. Hochul. “Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani and I stood together to announce the state’s historic investment in New York City’s 2-K program, delivering free child care for two-year-olds across the City. This is how we make New York the best place to start a family and build a future – and we’re just getting started.”

“The launch of 2-K reflects our commitment to reaching families with the greatest need and building a system that grows to serve every child in every community,” said Jamaican-born Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “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.”

“We have witnessed a significant rise in the cost of quality childcare, which has put immense stress on families,” said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, who traces his roots to the Bahamas. “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. Initiatives like Universal 2-K and similarly 3-K enables more community members to enter or re-enter the workforce, launch businesses, and sustain employment.

“Thank you to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and the legislature for ensuring that this became a reality,” he added. “When we work together, we bring forth positive change keeping the families of New York first.”

“As a mother of four, advocate, educator and public servant who founded and operated a 24/7 child care center, I’ve lived the reality behind the ongoing basic needs that are compromised for childcare for those who don’t have enough to make ends meet. Guaranteeing universal 3-K and pre-K means New York chooses to invest in children’s most critical years, keep families rooted in their communities, and build an economy where raising a family doesn’t mean going broke,” said Assemblywoman Chandler-Waterman, representative for the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn.

“Millions of New Yorkers have been shut out from these benefits, and our economy has paid the price in lost families, lost workers, and billions in lost growth,” added the daughter of Jamaican and Barbadian immigrants. “Universal 2-K, regardless of background, language barrier, income, or immigration status is a monumental step in removing the burden on families.

“While this is a needed step, we must ensure that child care workers will be making a livable wage with fair working conditions,” Chandler-Waterman continued. “I am committed to working with all my school districts, especially with School District 18 where initial slots will be available, as we push the initiative, keep programs financially viable, and create high-quality, diverse learning environments where all children benefit.”

“I’m deeply grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul for recognizing the urgent need in Washington Heights and Inwood and selecting School District 6 as one of the first communities to receive 2-K seats,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “For so many Northern Manhattan families, the cost of child care is an overwhelming burden, and this investment will make a real difference in parents’ ability to work and in giving our youngest learners a strong foundation. Expanding access to free, high-quality care — regardless of income, zip code, or immigration status — is an essential step toward true universal child care, and I’m proud that District 6 is helping lead the way.”

“Families across South Queens and the Rockaway Peninsula have endured generations of systemic disinvestment in their children’s education, from a lack of funding for their schools to a lack of urgency in ensuring our youngest students are given the proper head start they deserve. With District 27 set to become the borough’s first 2-K district this fall, we are taking another seismic leap forward in righting the wrongs of the past and building an education system rooted in equity,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Jr., whose father hails from Jamaica.

“As the father of an elementary school student myself, I couldn’t be more excited for the freedom this program will deliver for our families — both for our kids and for parents who have been stretched thin by the cost of childcare,” he added. “I look forward to working with the Governor, the Mayor and all our partners to ensure we deliver high-quality 2-K to every family in District 27 and, in time, beyond.”

“The 2-K districts announced today will provide direct relief to families that are bearing the brunt of the affordability crisis, and I am thrilled that Canarsie, Brownsville, and Ocean Hill are among the first communities to benefit from this historic expansion of childcare,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This is exactly the type of visionary change New Yorkers have demanded of their elected officials, and I thank Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul for delivering results.”

The mayor said the initial four communities were selected based on economic need, projected child care demand, existing access gaps, provider capacity and readiness.

He said 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.

Mamdani said 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, he said the City will begin planning efforts with child care centers and family child care providers in these four communities.

Additional details on participating providers will be released in the weeks ahead, the mayor said.