NYC families receive first 2-K placement offers for fall 2026

New York City Public Schools is scheduled to release the first fall 2026 2-K placement offers on Tuesday, August 4, giving families the next step in the city’s launch of free early care and education for two-year-olds.

The initial rollout includes 2,000 seats in selected New York City communities. It is not yet a citywide program, and NYC Public Schools says limited seats mean not every applicant will receive an offer.

How families will receive results

All families who applied by the deadline will receive a results letter. Families who applied online can view the letter through their MySchools account and will receive an email when results are available. Applicants who did not apply online will receive their results letter by mail.

Families can also contact NYC Public Schools enrollment support at 718-935-2009 if they need help with the enrollment process.

Who is eligible

Fall 2026 2-K admissions are open to New York City children born in 2024. In most cases, children must be 2 years old to begin on the first day of school. Children who turn 2 later in the year may receive a pending offer to start at a later date.

For the fall 2026 launch, 2-K programs are available in Districts 6, 10, 18, 23 and 27. The listed neighborhoods are Washington Heights, Inwood and Hamilton Heights; Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Morris Heights, Van Cortlandt Village and Kingsbridge; Canarsie and Remsen Village; Brownsville and Ocean Hill; and Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach and the Rockaways.

Families could apply to programs across New York City, but children receive priority in the district where they live, and placements near home depend on seat availability. The city has said 2-K will expand in future years, but that planned expansion does not make the program citywide for fall 2026.

What to do if your child receives an offer

Families receive one main offer if a seat is available. An offer is not the same as completed enrollment: families must accept the offer to ensure the seat and then register with the program.

Families can accept or decline an offer through MySchools, by contacting the school directly, by emailing ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov, or by contacting NYC Public Schools enrollment support by phone. Registration requires the documentation requested by the program.

Families should review the program’s location, schedule and daily arrangements before completing registration. Enrollment in 2-K does not include regular school bus service. Bus service is available only to students who qualify for specialized transportation.

If there is no offer

Because seats are limited, some applicants will not receive an offer. If no offer is made, the child will be placed on the waitlist for every choice listed on the application. Families may receive additional waitlist offers through the end of the school year, but being waitlisted does not guarantee a later placement.

NYC Public Schools lists Tuesday, August 4, 2026, as the scheduled offer-release date and warns that admissions dates are subject to change. Any changes will be announced and communicated directly to families.

Sources

• NYC Public Schools 2-K admissions
• NYC Public Schools 2-K Enrollment guidance
• NYC Mayor's Office 2-K launch announcement