Overview

• The first phase includes 40 sites—37 public schools and three charter schools—set to open this September across all five boroughs.
• The Department of Youth and Community Development will use the $21 million FY26 budget allocation to coordinate the rollout of 5,000 free after-school seats for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
• Schools were chosen based on gaps in existing programs and high need, prioritizing low-income communities, English learners, students with disabilities and high-crime areas.
• Funding is scheduled to increase to $112 million in fiscal 2027 for 10,000 additional seats and $136 million in fiscal 2028 for 5,000 more before establishing a $755 million annual baseline.
• The expansion builds on services that currently reach 164,000 K-8 students and marks the first of three phases in a plan to add 20,000 seats by 2028.