Overview
- Phase one begins in September in high-need neighborhoods, with citywide availability by year four under the New York City '2-Care' rollout.
- Hochul’s office says the first two years will be fully funded by the state without new taxes this year, pending legislative approval in the upcoming budget.
- The plan includes a statewide push to guarantee pre-K for all four-year-olds by the 2028–29 school year at an estimated cost of about $500 million.
- Proposals add roughly $1.2 billion for child care subsidies, create a new Office of Child Care and Early Education, and expand workforce training and 3-K stabilization.
- Officials warn a federal freeze on Child Care and Development Fund dollars could complicate implementation, as the proposal aims to reach nearly 100,000 additional children.