🔴 LIVE: Hearing on 2-K Education in NYC

The New York City Council Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education held an oversight hearing on 2K in New York City on October 8, 2026. NYC Public Schools and the Mayor’s Office of Child Care described the program’s launch with just over 2,000 seats across five school districts; the city received more than 5,700 applications, and 59% of families received their first-choice offer. The state committed $73 million for FY2027, and officials said a further $425 million is committed for FY2028 to support growth to 12,000 seats in fall 2027, with the goal of serving all interested two-year-olds by fall 2029. Officials outlined per-child provider rates, differentiated by setting and program schedule, and said most providers were already city-contracted while some were newly selected through a request for information. No votes or contract-award motions were reported.

Contract registration and payment delays were a central procurement concern. Officials acknowledged the delays, described interest-free bridge financing through the Returnable Grant Fund, and said staff are working to register outstanding contracts and improve payment processing; they also cited plans to strengthen contracting and procurement capacity, including additional operational staff. Providers and advocates urged timely contracts and advances, funding that reflects operating costs, salary parity, and broader access for independent home-based providers. The administration said it is considering provider feedback and flexibility for the next expansion, while noting that networks should not charge providers to participate. Council members requested follow-up data on rates, enrollment, provider and seat breakdowns, and staffing.»,