New York City will open up 10,000 more seats for free 2-K childcare next fall, including all of the Bronx

More Seats in 2-K

New York City is preparing to offer 10,000 additional seats in its free 2-K childcare program next fall, with the expansion including all of the Bronx. Mayor Mamdani said the plan is intended to help families facing the cost of raising young children in the city.

In a statement, Mamdani said many parents ask whether childcare will be affordable, whether they will have to leave work, or whether they will need to move away. He said the new seats provide an answer for 10,000 more families.

Families Leaving the City

Cities across the country have seen families seek more affordable housing and childcare. New York and other cities have also experienced declines in their populations of children under five since the pandemic began.

Childcare Costs Remain High

For families who stay, the cost of care can be substantial. An analysis from the comptroller’s office found that center-based toddler care in New York cost $23,400 annually in 2024.

Under the federal definition of affordable childcare, a family should spend no more than 7% of its income on care. The analysis said a New York family would need to earn at least $334,000 to meet that threshold at the reported cost.

Program Rollout Underway

The program’s rollout is taking place as providers contend with funding issues. Children across the city recently began their first days in 2-K. At a Friends of Crown Heights center in Brooklyn, mother Jessica Arroyo said having her daughter accepted into the program meant “everything.”