Governor Cuomo Announces Ambitious Affordability Agenda Planks to Expand Childcare and Make Pre-K and 3-K Truly Universal
As mayor, I will ensure that every 3-year-old has access to a high-quality education so no family is forced to choose between paying rent and paying for child care.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, a candidate for New York City mayor, today announced a comprehensive plan to expand child care and early education programs as major planks of his plan to make the city affordable for all. His plan focuses on guaranteeing universal access to high-quality early childhood education, expanding affordable child care options, and addressing the city's education gaps across the city. Governor Cuomo’s plan aims to provide every child, regardless of their background or income, an equal opportunity to succeed.
This is part of a broad Affordability Agenda designed to address the rising costs facing New Yorkers. This plan tackles the critical economic challenges New Yorkers face daily.
“My mother was a teacher who instilled in me the belief that education is the great equalizer —the key to opportunity, success, and a better future. Every child deserves a fair shot and it starts in the classroom,” Governor Cuomo said. “Working families in New York City face a child care and early education crisis. As mayor, I will ensure that every three-year-old has access to a high-quality education so no family is forced to choose between paying rent and paying for child care.”
Key Components of Governor Cuomo’s Education Plan
- Universal 3-K for All 3-Year-Olds: Governor Cuomo is committed to ensuring that every three-year-old in New York City has access to a publicly funded 3-K seat, 3-year-old in the city closer to achieving truly universal pre-kindergarten. This initiative will create over 60,000 seats, saving families an average of $10,000 to $20,000 per year in child care costs. Governor Cuomo will prioritize restoring funding for the 3-K program and ensure that seats are available in all neighborhoods, whether near home or work.
- Expanded Pre-K and Child Care for Younger Children: Building on his work as governor to secure funding for universal Pre-K, Governor Cuomo’s plan ensures full universality of Pre-K, prioritizing neighborhoods with the highest unmet demand. Additionally, the plan also addresses the critical need for affordable child care for children under three, ensuring that families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, about $100,000 for a family of four, can access subsidized care.
- Strengthening Child Care Infrastructure: Governor Cuomo’s plan will address the ongoing shortage of child care centers in New York City by incentivizing the establishment of new centers, particularly in “child care deserts.” By utilizing vacant spaces in businesses and public schools, and offering grants and loans to property owners, the plan will significantly increase the number of licensed child care providers. Furthermore, the plan will invest in growing the child care workforce, ensuring the city has the skilled workers needed to meet the demand for high-quality care.
- Targeted Resources for High-Need Communities: Governor Cuomo’s plan will make targeted investments in the city’s highest-need neighborhoods, focused on expanding both 3-K and early child care opportunities in underserved areas. By analyzing application data, the city will identify and address “3-K deserts,” ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to the resources they need.
- Employer-Supported Child Care: To encourage businesses to support working parents, Governor Cuomo will create incentives for employers to provide on-site child care and integrate child care facilities into economic development projects. This will not only ease the burden on parents but will also strengthen the city’s economy by helping employers retain and attract talent.
Throughout his career in public service, Governor Cuomo has been a champion for working New Yorkers. He raised wages for millions of workers, passed the strongest gun violence prevention and paid family leave laws in the nation, advanced the most substantial infrastructure program in a generation, including the Second Avenue Subway, Moynihan Train Hall, the new Kosciuszko Bridge, and new JFK and LaGuardia airports and codified Roe vs. Wade in state law years before the Supreme Court overturned it—all while cutting taxes and reining in spending.
For more details on Governor Cuomo’s Education Plan, visit AndrewCuomo.com.
###