Free 3-K and Pre-K Across New York State
Every 3- and 4-year-old in New York State deserves free preschool - no matter where they live.
Right now, outside NYC, most 3-year-olds and many 4-year-olds have no guaranteed seat - leaving families to pay out of pocket or go without.
We're fighting to change that with a statewide 3-K and Pre-K guarantee.
WON ✔️
The Problem: Free Child Care in NY Depends on Your Zip Code
Every 3- and 4-year-old in New York State deserves free preschool - in every zip code.
But despite promises going back nearly 30 years, New York has failed to deliver truly universal preschool. Outside New York City, families are largely on their own - spending billions out of pocket, leaving the workforce, or leaving the state entirely.
We’re fighting to guarantee free 3-K and Pre-K for every child in New York State, no matter where they live.
96%
of 3-year-olds outside NYC can’t access free child care
36%
of 4-year-olds outside NYC can’t access free pre-school
$14 billion
how much families in New York
State spend annually on child care
40%
Parents with kids under 6 are more likely to leave New York
For a family like mine, universal pre-K would be transformational. My husband and I were both born and raised on Long Island, and we're committed to raising our family here. We love our child care center and wouldn't want our kids to be anywhere else. But it's getting harder every year.
Genna Tudda
Huntington, NY
What We’re Fighting For
Free 3-K and Pre-K in Every School District
Every school district in New York State should be required to offer free 3-K and Pre-K to every 3- and 4-year-old, no matter their zip code.
Fair Pay for Educators and Support for Providers
Preschool educators deserve fair wages comparable to K-12 teachers. The state must establish a statewide pay scale, invest in workforce development, and support home-based providers so every community has the staff, resources, and capacity to make universal preschool a reality.
Funding That Covers the True Cost of Care
Funding must cover the real cost of quality preschool, including the classrooms, facilities, and resources needed to serve every child, including children with disabilities.
Press or legislative staff: email us for a one-pager with background.
The Solution: $2 Billion to Guarantee 3-K and Pre-K Statewide
Our plan proposes a $2 billion annual state investment to guarantee free 3-K and Pre-K for every child in New York, including $500 million for Pre-K and $1.5 billion for 3-K.
This investment would expand access, bring preschool funding closer to the true cost of quality care, and support the classrooms, facilities, and workforce needed to serve every family. It would also help establish a statewide pay scale so preschool educators can earn wages comparable to K-12 teachers, while supporting home-based providers and ensuring families can count on free preschool for years to come. A quality system can’t be built on poverty wages or unreliable funding.
New York has promised universal preschool for decades. It’s time to make that promise a guarantee - backed by permanent funding that families and providers can count on.
Sign the petition
Add your name and demand that Albany make free 3-K and Pre-K available for every child in New York
Other campaigns
2-Care for All
WONFree child care for all 2-year-olds in New York City
Universal Child Care
ONGOINGOur vision: free care for every child, from birth to five, full-day, full-year, in every zip code across New York.
Full-Day, Full-Year Care
(NYC)
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.
