Free Child Care for Every 2-Year-Old in NYC
New York City has a glaring gap in its child care system: no guaranteed free care for 2-year-olds.
In 2025, parents began fighting for 2-Care: free, full-day, full-year child care for every 2-year-old in NYC.
In January 2026, Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani announced a historic commitment to launch 2-Care. Now we need to make sure the program is fully funded, available to every family, and here to stay.
Every 2-year-old in New York City deserves free child care — no matter their family’s income or zip code.
But child care for a 2-year-old costs families more than $20,000 a year, putting it out of reach for too many working families. Without affordable options, parents are forced to pay out of pocket, cut back on work, or go without the care they need.
We’re fighting to make 2-Care a reality: free, full-day, full-year child care for every 2-year-old in New York City.
The Problem: Child Care for 2-Year-Olds is Out of Reach
$20,000+
the annual cost of child care for a 2-year-old in NYC
20%
the share of eligible toddlers currently receiving child care subsidies
$1.3 billion
the estimated annual cost of universal 2-Care at full scale
“We want to raise our family in New York City but the cost of child care makes it really hard. Free 2-Care for our family would be huge for lightening our financial load and help make our family's dreams come true."
Stephanie Park
Brooklyn, NY
What We’re Fighting For
Free Care for Every 2-Year-Old
Every 2-year-old in New York City should have access to free child care, regardless of family income or zip code. That means enough seats in every neighborhood, with full-day, full-year care that works for families.
Permanent Funding for Universal Care
2-Care must be fully funded and built to last. The city and state need a sustainable funding plan that supports enough seats to meet families’ needs and gives parents and providers confidence that care will be there year after year.
Fair Pay and Support for Providers
Child care workers deserve fair wages, and providers need the resources to deliver high-quality care. The program must support family child care providers, invest in the workforce, and ensure children with disabilities and other specialized needs can access care.
Press or legislative staff: email us for a one-pager with background.
The Solution: 2-K for All
Our 2-Care for All blueprint lays out a path to universal, free child care for all 60,000 2-year-olds in New York City, at an estimated annual cost of $1.3 billion when fully implemented.
We recommend expanding access across all five boroughs, starting in high-need neighborhoods and building quickly toward universal coverage. That means investing in new seats and existing providers, making enrollment simple, funding fair wages, and ensuring programs have the staff, facilities, and resources to serve every child. The city and state must work together to create a permanent program that families can count on.
Sign the petition
Tell Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani: make 2-Care universal, fully funded, and permanent.
Full-Day, Full-Year Care
(NYC)
A free seat that ends at 2pm doesn’t work for parents who work full-time. We’re going to make every 3-K and Pre-K seat full-day and full-year.
Universal Child Care
Our vision: free care for every child, from birth to five, full-day, full-year, in every zip code across New York.
Statewide 3-K Pre-K Guarantee
Every 3- and 4-year-old in New York State deserves free preschool - no matter where they live.
