If you have a 2- or 3-year-old in New York City, several child care changes are underway that could affect your options for next school year. From new free seats to expanded program models and a citywide survey, here are three important things to know right now.
You can weigh in on the future of child care
Deadline: April 17 at noon
Parents or caregivers of children up to 5 years old can help shape the future of child care through the NYC Parent Survey. City officials say it will help inform plans for universal child care, including where new seats are needed, what hours programs should offer, whether families need school-year or year-round care and the best models for neighborhood-based care.
The survey is being conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the New Practice Lab at New America and the Robin Hood Foundation. Results will be shared with the city. Learn more.
If you didn’t receive a postcard invitation (which began going out March 31) with instructions for completing the survey online, you can still express interest in participating through an online form. Submissions must be received before noon on April 17.
Free 2-K is launching with full-day, full-year care
Speaking of the survey question on whether families need school-year or year-round care, the city is rolling out the first phase of free 2-K for 2-year-olds this fall with full-day and full-year care.
It’s launching with about 2,000 seats citywide. City officials say it should expand beyond that in the future.
The programs will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 260 days a year. No application deadlines or locations are set yet, but families with children turning 2 should watch for details. Read Epicenter NYC’s coverage of the rollout of free 2-K programs.
More 3-K seats and providers coming
Last month, the city announced it’s expanding its capacity for 3-K, including more than 1,000 new seats in five ZIP codes in the Bronx, six on Staten Island, eight in Brooklyn, 16 in Manhattan and 21 in Queens.
Officials say this will improve local access to early childhood programs and make it less likely that families are offered placements far from home.
This month, the city also launched a new child care center provider permitting portal. Officials say this fully online process will simplify the process to open child care centers across the city. The new portal streamlines application requirements and provides real-time updates on application status.
