Free 2-K is planned across Staten Island starting in fall 2027

Free 2-K is planned to reach all of Staten Island in fall 2027, as part of a New York City expansion adding 10,000 seats citywide. The plan also covers all of the Bronx and areas of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. The city has not said how many seats Staten Island would receive or where participating providers would be located.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the plan on Oct. 19, 2026. The Mayor’s Office says programs would be added in 17 more geographic school districts, alongside expanded capacity in the five districts already offering 2-K.

The first seats drew more than 5,700 applications i

The fall 2027 plan follows the launch of 2,000 seats in five districts for fall 2026. The city says those seats drew more than 5,700 applications, or more than 2.85 applications per seat. That comparison shows application volume; it is not an estimate of any individual child’s admission chances.

The city describes the program as free, full-day and full-year care delivered through center-based child-care programs and licensed family child-care programs. Its announcement also projects a reach of more than 12,000, but alternates between describing that figure as children and as families.

This is a future plan, not an open enrollment opportunity. The city has not announced Staten Island’s seat allocation, provider locations or family application dates. It said it planned to seek information from current providers and prospective providers within the following week, and to announce the family application timeline in the coming weeks.

One Staten Island provider interviewed by City & State New York raised concerns about entering city contracts, including the possibility of giving up a private two-year-old classroom, and cited payment delays experienced by providers. Those concerns reflect that provider’s account, not necessarily the views of all providers.