{"id":40602,"date":"2026-06-04T14:46:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/?p=40602"},"modified":"2026-06-04T14:46:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:46:43","slug":"mayor-mamdani-and-governor-hochul-open-2-k-applications-in-first-four-2-k-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/archives\/40602","title":{"rendered":"Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul Open 2-K Applications in First Four 2-K Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEWYORK: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced that applications are now open for the City\u2019s first 2-K seats.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To celebrate the launch, the Mayor and Governor joined students from Sheldon R. Weaver Child Care Center on the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk, in one of the four communities that will receive the first 2,000 2-K seats this fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, for the first time, families across NYC can begin applying for free child care for their two-year-old, making the dream of 2-K in NYC finally a reality,\u201d said Governor Hochul.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo parent should have to choose between a job they love and a child they can\u2019t afford to care for. That\u2019s why we’re putting this city and state on a path to universal child care, delivering relief for working families and ensuring every kid gets the strong start they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk any parent of a young child, and they will tell you the same thing: child care has been too hard to find and too expensive for far too long. That is why, from the very start of my administration, we made universal child care a top priority,\u201d said Mayor Mamdani.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn partnership with Governor Hochul, this fall, 2,000 families will have access to free 2-K seats, and next year that number will grow to 12,000 families in every borough. Today\u2019s application launch brings us closer to a city where every family can access they need and every child gets the strongest possible start.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first time, families can log on to MySchools.NYC right now and see real, high-quality 2-K programming options that are free,\u201d said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what it looks like when a city truly invests in its children and communities. Early care and education are the greatest foundation we can give New York City\u2019s two-year-olds, and I am excited to continue our work to ensure every family access to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul announced the historic launch of 2-K just eight days after the Mayor took office, along with a $1.2 billion investment by the state for child care in New York City.<\/p>\n

“As the father of an elementary school student, I know first-hand the importance of early education in the overall development of our children. But for far too long, countless Queens families have struggled to find affordable childcare or that vital early education their kids deserve,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.<\/p>\n

“With the launch of 2-K here in Rockaway and across South Queens, families will be able to enjoy both at no cost \u2014 boosting their children’s development while protecting their bank accounts. I look forward to working closely with Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul and all our community partners on successfully bringing 2-K to every other Queens school district in the years ahead.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so excited that today applications go live for families who will rely on safe and quality care for their precious two year old,\u201d said Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a working mother, I know how difficult it is to leave your child in someone else\u2019s hands, but for so many of us, it is our only option. Families in eligible districts can embark in our City\u2019s 2-K program process today and enroll their child for the fall. Families will rest easy knowing the cost is taken care of, and providers can be supported knowing they are being invested in. This is transformative change. I applaud Mayor Mamdani, the Mayor\u2019s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education and New York City Public Schools for this incredible milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a forever educator, I know that the earliest years of a child\u2019s life are critical to their growth, development, and future success. Expanding access to 2-K is a transformative investment in our children and families, ensuring that more young learners can build strong foundations before they enter school. I applaud Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul for taking this important step toward universal early childhood education and for making these opportunities available to families across our city. By providing access to high-quality early learning experiences at an earlier age, we are supporting working families, reducing barriers to opportunity, and setting our youngest New Yorkers on a path to thrive,\u201d said Council Member Rita Joseph.<\/p>\n

“For working parents, access to reliable childcare can determine whether they remain in the workforce or fall behind,\u201d said New York City Council Member Selvena N. Brooks-Powers.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor our youngest New Yorkers, it means starting school ready to learn, grow, and thrive. I am thrilled that the first four free 2-K communities include areas of Council District 31. This initiative is a significant step toward providing families with essential support and giving children the strong start they deserve. I want to thank Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul, and our education partners for recognizing the needs of communities like ours in the outer boroughs and making this vision a reality. Today’s announcement benefits not only District 31 but families across New York City, and I am proud to welcome this opportunity to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to reliable, trusted, local, and affordable childcare is critical for stabilizing our working families in a difficult economy. As a working mom, having early childhood education centers allowed me to run for office while ensuring my child was learning and growing in a safe space. Many of our providers are non-profits and small centers run predominantly by women of color who, too, need support. Expanding childcare access is a smart solution for all, and we are excited for families to apply for this fall,\u201d said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive from the very beginning,\u201d said Council Member Lynn Schulman.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs enrollment opens for 2-K, we are taking a major step forward in expanding access to free early childhood education and giving families the support they need to succeed. By investing in our youngest New Yorkers, we are investing in stronger families, stronger communities, and a brighter future for our city. I want to thank Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul, and our education partners for making this historic expansion possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Mayor Mamdani, Governor Hochul, and my Council colleagues to kick off the beginning of 2-K enrollment,\u201d said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a historic initiative that will transform the affordability of our city for working families. With Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul at the helm, we finally have leaders that understand the value and importance of child care, families, and gender equity in the workforce. Good quality and free 2-K is the key to ensure that the next generation of New Yorkers can say they were born and raised here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExpanding access to 2 K marks a powerful step forward for our community. It opens the door for parents to give their children the gift of early learning, setting them on a path of curiosity and lifelong opportunity. As a representative for District 27 schools, I am deeply grateful that our families will have this access supported by the resources they deserve. I encourage every parent to embrace this moment and take full advantage of early investment into their child\u2019s future,\u201d said Assembly Member Khaleel M. Anderson, 31st Assembly District.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is a momentous day for New York families. 2-K will mean all the difference for families across the city who are being priced out by the staggering cost of child care. We\u2019re grateful to Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani for listening to the parents who fought for this program – and for committing to make New York a place for all families, not just the wealthiest ones,\u201d said Kellan Calder, a Community Organizer at New Yorkers United for Child Care.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor over a century, United Neighborhood Houses and our members have fought to expand access to high-quality early childhood education for all New Yorkers,\u201d said Nora Moran, Director of Policy & Advocacy at United Neighborhood Houses.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, as 2-K programs begin accepting applications, marks a historic milestone in our fight for universal care. UNH is grateful to Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul for their commitment to not only take this step, but to do so in partnership with providers. parents, and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NEWYORK: Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul announced that applications are now open for the City\u2019s first 2-K seats. To celebrate the launch, the Mayor and Governor joined students from Sheldon R. Weaver Child Care Center on the Rockaway Beach Boardwalk, in one of the four communities that will receive the first 2,000 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":40603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1469,31,1378],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-york","category-news","category-us"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40602"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40602\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40606,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40602\/revisions\/40606"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vosa.tv\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}