NY City to add 10,000 free 2-K seats from fall 2027

Published on October 26, 2026

New York City will add 10,000 free 2-K seats for 2-year-olds beginning in fall 2027, according to The Haitian Times. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels announced the expansion on Oct. 19. The city expects to offer 12,000 seats across 22 of the city’s 32 geographic school districts, building on an initial rollout in 2026. ¹

The expansion will reach every school district in the Bronx and all of Staten Island, with additional districts in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. In Brooklyn, the newly included districts cover neighborhoods including Flatbush and East Flatbush. The program provides free early childhood care and education to eligible 2-year-olds, and officials say it is intended to help families manage child care costs.

Families may find information about child care options for children under 5, program eligibility and future application announcements through the city’s child care information hub. Additional information about the 2-K program is available on the NYC Public Schools  website.