Make 2-K permanent.
Parents won the first free seats for two-year-olds in New York’s history — $500 million, with the first seats opening this fall. But one-time money runs out. We’re fighting to fund 2-K for good, so it can’t be quietly cut in a lean budget year.
LIVE NOW
Updated September 2026
2-K is a win that isn’t safe yet.
The first 2-K seats are a breakthrough — free care for two-year-olds, something New York has never had. But they’re funded with one-time money.
Programs built on money that has to be re-won every year are the first thing on the table when budgets get tight. Families can’t plan their lives around a seat that might not exist next June.
$500M
won for free 2-year-old care in NYC — first seats fall 2026
First
publicly funded 2-K seats in New York’s history
“I finally have a free seat for my two-year-old. Now I just want to know it’ll still be there next year — I can’t build my whole schedule around a maybe.”
AN NYUC PARENT
New York City
XX
families on the waitlist as the first seats open
We’re fighting for permanent 2-K funding.
A permanent line in the budget
Baseline funding for 2-K, not a grant that has to be fought for again every single year.
Full-day, full-year seats
Hours and months that match a working parent’s schedule — not a half-day that ends at pickup.
Keep expanding seats
Grow the program toward every family who wants a seat, instead of capping it at the first pilot.
Fair pay for the workforce
Wages that let providers actually open and keep the new seats staffed.
Press or legislative staff: email us for the printable one-pager, the numbers behind it, and someone to quote.
The full story
HOW THE FIRST 2-K SEATS GOT WON
Two-year-old care was never part of New York’s public system. Parents put it on the agenda — showing up at budget hearings, rallies, and constituent meetings until “2-K” became a real line item.
The result: $500 million for free 2-year-old care in NYC, with the first seats opening in fall 2026. It’s the first expansion of universal child care in New York in years — and proof the ceiling moves when parents organize.
This background is placeholder copy. Replace with the real timeline, the exact appropriations, and where permanent funding stands in the current budget cycle before publish.
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Two-year-old care was never part of New York’s public system. Parents put it on the agenda — showing up at budget hearings, rallies, and constituent meetings until “2-K” became a real line item.
The result: $500 million for free 2-year-old care in NYC, with the first seats opening in fall 2026. It’s the first expansion of universal child care in New York in years — and proof the ceiling moves when parents organize.
This background is placeholder copy. Replace with the real timeline, the exact appropriations, and where permanent funding stands in the current budget cycle before publish.
Help lock it in.
A one-time win becomes permanent when enough parents make clear they’re watching the budget.
We’ll tell you when there’s a budget vote, a rally, or major updates.
LIVE NOWA 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.
ONGOINGStatewide 3-K
96% of 3-year-olds outside NYC can’t get free child care. First we passed a statewide Pre-K guarantee — now we’re pushing for 3-K.
Full-Day, Full-Year Care
(NYC)
ONGOINGUniversal Child Care
Our vision: free care for every child, from birth to five, full-day, full-year, in every zip code across New York.
