Mayor Adams Announces 40 New After-School Sites to Serve Families This Fall, First Step in Achieving Ambitious Universal After-School Programming for Students and Families

July 22, 2025

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ43YW1mjDk&t=316s

$21 Million Immediate Investment Will Bring 5,000 New Seats Across 40 Schools This Fall

Unprecedented $331 Million Additional Investment Will Bring “After-School for All” to 20,000 Additional K-5 Students by Fall 2027

Universal After-School First Announced as Part of Mayor Adams’ “Best Budget Ever”

Initial Programs Beginning This School Year Support Adams Administration’s Commitment to Making New York City Best Place to Raise a Family

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard today announced the first 40 new after-school program sites providing 5,000 new K-5 after-school seats to New York City students beginning this September, putting New York City on the path to universal after-school in the next three school years. The 37 New York City Public Schools locations and three public charter school locations were selected based on economic need and service gaps in those communities. The $21-million investment in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget, which builds on Mayor Adams’ FY 2026 Executive Budget — often called the “Best Budget Ever” — will bring the initial new seats online this fall, and marks the first step in delivering Mayor Adams’ vision of “After-School for All.” The ambitious $331-million commitment made by the Adams administration will support the addition of 20,000 new after-school seats over the next three school years, bringing the total number of public-school students served by universal after-school programming to 184,000 with a total investment of $755 million annually, baselined by FY 2028.

“Every parent knows that learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom, but, for too long, too many families did not have access to affordable child care and during after-school hours. But building a safer, more affordable city starts with creating a safe space for our young New Yorkers to learn,” said Mayor Adams. “Less than three months after we announced our ambitious goal of delivering universal after-school to families with 20,000 additional seats, we are delivering on that promise with our first batch of 5,000 new after-school seats for the upcoming school year that starts in just a matter of weeks. Universal after-school will make life easier for a total of 169,000 students and their parents this fall who will no longer have to choose between work and taking care of their kids — or worse yet, using an iPad as a babysitter. Working-class New Yorkers deserve nothing less than a hard-working administration that puts their needs first, and today’s announcement builds on our increased and baselined funding for 3-K and special education pre-K, a historic child care pilot for children two years old and younger, and reduced child care costs. Every day, we are working to make New York City the best place to raise a family, and it is exactly by delivering promises like universal after-school that will help us get there.”

“Once again, the Adams administration has demonstrated our deep commitment to families by delivering real, meaningful support where it’s needed most. Expanding after-school programming has been a top priority since the moment I stepped into my role as deputy mayor, and I’m incredibly proud of the hard work we’ve done to make this vision a reality,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “Welcoming thousands of students into new after-school seats next school year will help support their intellectual growth and give parents the confidence to focus on their careers, while knowing their children are safe and academically engaged. This step is a clear example that, together, we are building a stronger, more supportive city for all New Yorkers.”

“As the commissioner overseeing the first major expansion of New York City’s after-school system in a decade, I have seen firsthand how these opportunities will forever change the lives of thousands of young people. For me, after-school programming is personal. My mother made sure my siblings and I attended after-school growing up in the Bronx, and I carried on that family tradition by sending my own children,” said DYCD Commissioner Howard. “Mayor Adams knows that to make New York City more affordable and the best place to raise a family, we have to start with engaging our young people in free, safe programming. DYCD looks forward to kicking off the new school year with our outstanding nonprofit partners, who have played such a vital role in developing the next generation of the city’s afterschool programming.”

The selected new locations can be found on DYCD’s After-School webpage.

The total number of public-school students served by after-school programming will rise to 184,000 by the 2027-2028 school year, with an overall investment of $755 million annually that will then be baselined going forward. DYCD will assess the ongoing need and add slots if necessary.

The expansion also includes the first request for proposals in over a decade, in an effort to enhance and improve programs for New York City youth, as well as raise provider rates to stabilize the non-profit organizations leading these programs and better support the workforce who serve New York City’s youth. Additionally, the Adams administration will form a commission for universal after-school by engaging providers and community stakeholders to develop a sustainable, long-term system that ensures non-profit organizations are able to continue to hire and train staff and deliver quality programming.

“I am proud to see our community included in this transformative investment in after-school education,” said New York State Assemblymember Emerita Torres. “These new programs will provide critical academic, extracurricular, and social support to our children and much-needed peace of mind to working families in the South Bronx. For too long, neighborhoods like ours have gone without equitable access to enriching, safe after-school opportunities. This initiative is a powerful step toward changing that reality and uplifting the next generation of the South Bronx and across New York City.”

“This landmark investment marks a critical step forward for New York City families,” said Rachel Gazdick, CEO, New York Edge. “Expanding access to after-school programs means more students will benefit from safe, enriching environments that foster academic achievement, support social-emotional development, and help them thrive well beyond the classroom. As the city’s largest provider of afterschool and summer programming, New York Edge is committed to bridging the gap in access to these essential opportunities for local youth and proudly supports the mayor and DYCD’s vision for universal after-school.”

“The Comprehensive After-School System ensures students succeed during their K-8 academic years,” said Yokasta Morales, executive director, Children’s Arts and Science Workshops. “Its services are crafted to enhance and enrich the educational experience without duplicating the New York City school curriculum. Students participate in after-school specialized activities, such as STEAM, literacy, recreation, sports, project-based learning, social-emotional learning, and family engagement, including summer services. These activities foster vibrant communities and stronger families. A partnership between DYCD and New York City Public Schools offers an excellent opportunity for thousands of families in New York City!”

“We’re thrilled that New York Junior Tennis League is part of this exciting new chapter for afterschool programs in New York City,” said Udai Tambar, president and CEO, New York Junior Tennis and Learning. “This investment recognizes the vital role organizations like ours play in supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional development. This fall, we look forward to expanding high-quality opportunities like our ACES Afterschool Program, a unique blend of tennis and learning that helps students succeed both on the court and in the classroom. We commend Mayor Adams and his administration for prioritizing our city’s families and future.”

This investment adds to the Adams administration’s historic investments in young people, and supports both the Summer Youth Employment and Summer Rising programs to serve record numbers, and increases spending on young adult career success programming by 25 percent, as announced in “Pathways to an Inclusive Economy: An Action Plan for Young Adult Career Success,” a forward-thinking roadmap to build inclusive pathways for the city's young people to discover their passion, receive hands-on career experience, and, ultimately, enter the workforce.

Over the last three years, the Adams administration has been focused on making New York City more affordable for families through popular and essential programs like early childhood education. Recently, Mayor Adams announced a child care pilot for 0-2 year olds that puts New York City on the path to universal child care for low-income families if the pilot is successful and a $167-million long-term investment and commitment to funding 3-K and special education pre-K programs annually. Under the Adams administration, a record 150,000 children are enrolled across the early childhood education system today, the out-of-pocket costs of child care subsidies have been reduced from $55 per week in 2022 to $5 per week today, and the administration met its commitment to offer a seat to every child who applied for 3-K on time — the first time this has ever been done in the city’s history.

Over the FY 2025 budget cycle, Mayor Adams protected more than $600 million in key, long-term education programs that had been previously funded with expiring stimulus dollars by making investments in Summer Rising, a citywide 3-K expansion, special education pre-K, community schools, social workers, and arts education. Additionally, the Adams administration invested $20 million to ensure that every student on a 3-K waitlist was offered a seat, and $55 million to provide more than 700 new seats for three- and four-year-olds with special needs.

Today’s announcement further builds on the Adams administration's core educational accomplishments for New York City public school students, including implementing a major literacy initiative through “NYC Reads;” instituting nation-leading dyslexia supports; expanding Gifted and Talented Programs; increasing math and English test scores in the past and making strong academic gains in 2025; building nine new schools for the 2024-2025 school year alone; helping students prepare for college and careers; cementing new labor contracts for teachers, principals, and staff; and, most recently, unveiling a signature math initiative, “NYC Solves,” as well as creating the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning to prioritize the city's most vulnerable students and families, including multi-language learners and students with disabilities.

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