NYC Mayor Mamdani Launches 2-K & 3-K RFI for Universal Child Care

Advancing Universal Child Care in NYC

• 💡 Mayor Mamdani announced a Request for Information (RFI) and an expansion survey to significantly increase child care capacity across New York City.
• 🎯 This initiative marks a crucial step towards making universal child care a reality, aiming to support working families and young parents.
• ✅ The RFI invites new early childhood providers to join existing 3K programs and establish new 2K services for two-year-olds, a first for NYC.

Expanding Access and Support

• 🚀 For the first time in five years, new providers can contribute to the city's child care programs, with 2K being a new offering for two-year-olds.
• 💰 The expansion is designed to help families save over $20,000 per child annually on child care costs, enabling them to remain in their neighborhoods.
• 🤝 The administration is committed to addressing challenges faced by providers, including rising operational costs, low wages, and high staff turnover, and will welcome family and home-based providers.

Application Details for Providers & Parents

• 🗓️ The RFI and expansion survey for providers are open until February 19, 2026, accessible via Passport and the NYC Public Schools info hub.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents of children turning three or four this year can apply for 3K and Pre-K until February 27, 2026, through myschools.nyc or at various welcome centers.
• 📈 The city plans to roll out 2,000 2K seats by the end of this year, expanding to approximately 12,000 seats next year.

Ensuring Quality and Accountability

• ⚠️ New York City Public Schools terminated its contract with Bright Horizons for a specific center following a careful review of concerning allegations, with the Health Department seeking permit revocation.
• 🔍 All child care providers undergo a rigorous vetting process, including inspections, background checks, teacher qualification reviews, and facility safety assessments.
• 🚨 The city conducts routine unannounced inspections and responds immediately to serious complaints, emphasizing the importance of whistleblower reports for maintaining high-quality, safe child care.