April 16, 2026
What you should know
- Seven previously vacant sites will add 240 new 3-K seats, bringing programs closer to families
- Additional seats for community-based providers to be announced in coming weeks
NEW YORK— Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels announced seven new early childhood education centers will open this fall, adding about 240 new 3-K seats across the city. The sites, previously vacant, are part of the first phase of the 3-K expansion announced last month for the 2026–27 school year.
The new centers will meet community demand, make full use of existing space and expand access to early childhood education closer to where families live.
The City also announced an expansion of capacity among existing contracted providers, adding seats across current programs. Additional center-based seats will be announced following the evaluation of the Request for Information (RFI) issued earlier this year, along with planned increases in family child care network capacity.
“Today, we are opening doors that should never have been closed to our families — safe, nurturing spaces where their children can learn and grow, in their own communities,” said Mayor Mamdani. “For too long, truly accessible child care was just out of reach. By bringing these sites online, we’re making clear that no amount of red tape will get in the way of delivering the free, universal child care New Yorkers deserve.”
“We have been deliberate about how we approach early care and education and are taking meaningful steps to put more seats closer to the families that need them most,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “These are more than just additional seats. They are the foundation every child needs to thrive, and we are committed to making sure no family in our system has to look too far to find a high-quality program for their child.”
The following sites will be open for the 2026–2027 school year:
- District 11 – 1107 East Gun Hill Road
- District 15 – 274 Atlantic Avenue
- District 22 – 1326 East 57th Street
- District 24 – 63-57 Fresh Pond Road
- District 24 – 104-72 Roosevelt Avenue
- District 24 – 47-00 76th Street
- District 25 – 18-31 131st Street
Site selections were based on community demand, seat availability, site readiness and the ability to open for the upcoming school year.
New programs will be listed on MySchools. Families who have already applied will receive email instructions on how to update their applications. Families who missed the deadline can still join program waitlists.
Today’s announcement builds on the Mamdani Administration’s commitment to delivering universal child care to New York City families, supported by the state in partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul. Since Jan. 1, 2026, the City has announced the launch of full-day, full-year 2-K, the city’s first universal child care for 2-year-olds, set to launch with 2,000 initial seats this year, as well as an expansion of more than 1,000 3-K seats in 56 ZIP codes.