ICYMI: Big Week for Our Smallest New Yorkers – Launch of 2-K & Expansion of 3-K

NEW YORK — Over the past week, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani visited classrooms and child care centers across all five boroughs to mark major progress toward universal child care for New York City families. In the past week alone, Mayor Mamdani announced more than 1,000 new 3-K seats in neighborhoods with high demand and launched 2,000 free 2-K seats in four communities across the city.

Last week, Mayor Mamdani joined Governor Kathy Hochul to announce the four communities selected to receive the City’s first 2,000 2-K seats. Yesterday, Mayor Mamdani joined preschoolers on Staten Island to celebrate the expansion of 3-K, which will add more than 1,000 seats across 56 ZIP codes where additional capacity is needed – more than half of New York City’s school districts.

Both announcements deliver on the commitment Mayor Mamdani made just eight days into his administration, when he and Governor Hochul announced a historic investment in child care: $73 million to fund the first year of 2-K and $100 million to fix the broken 3-K system.

To keep New Yorkers informed, the Mayor visited child care centers in each of the initial 2-K communities, joined Gov. Hochul for a visit to a shelter-based child care center, released a video explainer on the 3-K expansion across social media, held two press conferences and appeared on several news outlets.

Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care, also spoke with EducationWeek and Fox5 about the new initiatives.

In case you missed it:

• VIDEO: New York City is adding 1,000 3-K seats - because every neighborhood deserves affordable childcare
• PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Mamdani Announces Major 3-K Expansion, Adding More Than 1,000 New Seats
• PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul Announce First Four Communities to Receive Free 2-K Seats
• VISIT: Mamdani celebrates Holi at South Richmond Hill child care center, welcomes rollout of free 2K care
• VISIT: Story time: Mayor Mamdani visits Canarsie preschool as NYC launches free 2-K
• VISIT: NYC Mayor Mandani Makes Major 2-K Childcare Announcement at Bronx Community College
• INTERVIEW: PIX11 Exclusive: Mayor reveals new child care details
• INTERVIEW: Mayor Mamdani on 1010Wins
• INTERVIEW: Mayor Mamdani on News12
• INTERVIEW: Mayor Mamdani on Telemundo
• INTERVIEW with Executive Director Liss: Child Care From Age 2: New York City’s Plan to Improve Student Outcomes
• INTERVIEW with Executive Director Liss: Politics Unusual: Mayor's Office of Child Care Executive Director

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