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4h ago

Mamdani Opens Recruitment for 3K and New 2K, Sets Near-Term Seat Goals

City officials will use surveys of providers plus families to place the first 2,000 seats this year under a partnership promising more than $1 billion.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, along with Pre-K students, announce first steps towards bringing 2-K to New York City, and expanding access to 3-K, at City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Michael Appleton / Mayoral Photography Office)
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Overview

  • The city opened an RFI to enlist new providers for 3K and the new 2K program and is collecting submissions and surveys through Feb. 19.
  • Families with children turning three or four this year can apply for 3K and pre‑K through Feb. 27, and placement is not first‑come, first‑served.
  • The rollout targets 2,000 seats for two‑year‑olds by year’s end and roughly 12,000 next year, with initial placements expected in high‑need neighborhoods.
  • Following abuse allegations at a Bright Horizons site, New York City Public Schools ended that center’s 3K and pre‑K contract and the Health Department is seeking to revoke its permits, with new providers subject to background checks, inspections and unannounced follow‑ups.
  • The expansion is tied to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s funding partnership exceeding $1 billion, with officials acknowledging that longer‑term financing after the second year still needs to be finalized.