Free child care plan for 2-year-olds set to be unveiled by Hochul and Mamdani in New York City

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani are set to announce a program offering free child care for 2-year-olds, with Hochul committing to fully fund the first two years and the first year targeting high-need areas.

New York state and city leaders plan to unveil a new program to provide free child care for 2-year-olds in New York City. The announcement is scheduled for a Thursday news conference and is presented as an extension of the city’s existing universal pre-K program. Governor Kathy Hochul has signaled support for a broader statewide free child care effort. Mayor Zohran Mamdani framed the move as an early part of his agenda to address affordability in the city. Key details: - The program would offer free child care for 2-year-olds in New York City, as described by officials. - Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani were expected to detail the plan at a Thursday morning news conference. - Hochul said she will commit to fully funding the first two years of the city’s program and described it as an expansion of universal pre-K. - The first year will focus on "high-need areas" selected by the city, with plans to expand across the city by the fourth year. Summary: The proposal would extend publicly funded early childhood care to 2-year-olds and is presented as a coordinated city-state effort. Officials say funding and a phased rollout are planned, and the formal announcement is set for a news conference; additional implementation details were not provided in the initial statements.