New York Governor Kathy Hochul has made several promises in her State of the State speech to tackle the child care crisis, which she acknowledges affects many families across the state. The Democrat vowed to make child care universal and affordable for all New Yorkers, with a focus on expanding low-cost options for young children.
One key initiative is the 2-care program, which will provide two years of free child care for New York City's 2-year-olds starting this fall. While the program is expected to begin in "high need" areas, estimates suggest that around 55,000 2-year-olds will be enrolled annually. The state will contribute $75 million in the first year and $425 million in the second year.
Hochul also plans to fix New York City's popular 3K program, which has struggled with supply and demand issues. Additionally, she aims to boost funding for the child care voucher program, which provides low-cost care for working families. The program has ballooned under Hochul, serving 100,000 more families than when she took office.
Furthermore, Hochul wants every 4-year-old in the state to have access to free child care by 2028. While some parts of New York offer pre-K, not all do, and the governor plans to increase funding for pre-K so school districts can expand their offerings.
Child care experts praise Hochul's plans, citing statistics that show nearly a third of women in New York City leave the workforce due to unaffordable child care options. Universal child care could increase labor participation by 28,000 more workers, according to state data.
To support child care providers and workers, Hochul wants to reduce barriers to opening and running programs, expand scholarship programs, and provide tuition assistance for those interested in early childhood education. A new state office will focus on managing her child care plans, with the governor confident that the state's strong revenues can get the programs off the ground.
However, critics warn that more needs to be done to ensure these commitments are fully funded and universally accessible. As one advocate noted, "parents are at a breaking point" and "we have a responsibility to get this right." With Hochul's promises, New Yorkers may finally see a light at the end of the tunnel for affordable child care.
One key initiative is the 2-care program, which will provide two years of free child care for New York City's 2-year-olds starting this fall. While the program is expected to begin in "high need" areas, estimates suggest that around 55,000 2-year-olds will be enrolled annually. The state will contribute $75 million in the first year and $425 million in the second year.
Hochul also plans to fix New York City's popular 3K program, which has struggled with supply and demand issues. Additionally, she aims to boost funding for the child care voucher program, which provides low-cost care for working families. The program has ballooned under Hochul, serving 100,000 more families than when she took office.
Furthermore, Hochul wants every 4-year-old in the state to have access to free child care by 2028. While some parts of New York offer pre-K, not all do, and the governor plans to increase funding for pre-K so school districts can expand their offerings.
Child care experts praise Hochul's plans, citing statistics that show nearly a third of women in New York City leave the workforce due to unaffordable child care options. Universal child care could increase labor participation by 28,000 more workers, according to state data.
To support child care providers and workers, Hochul wants to reduce barriers to opening and running programs, expand scholarship programs, and provide tuition assistance for those interested in early childhood education. A new state office will focus on managing her child care plans, with the governor confident that the state's strong revenues can get the programs off the ground.
However, critics warn that more needs to be done to ensure these commitments are fully funded and universally accessible. As one advocate noted, "parents are at a breaking point" and "we have a responsibility to get this right." With Hochul's promises, New Yorkers may finally see a light at the end of the tunnel for affordable child care.
the 2-care program is a good start but $425 million in the second year is like, a lot of cash 
and what about the ones who can't afford childcare even with the new progams? my mom had to put her career on hold because she couldn't find affordable care for our youngest 
anywayz, i'm hyped to see some change in the state 
. It's crazy how many families are struggling with childcare costs – I've got friends who have to choose between paying rent and paying for daycare, it's just not fair 
. As a parent myself, I know how hard it is to balance work and family life without affordable childcare options 
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. And with over 55,000 2-year-olds getting free care, that's a huge step in the right direction 
. I just hope they can deliver on these promises without leaving some families behind 
. It's not just about Hochul's plans – it's about creating a more equitable system where everyone has access to quality care 
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When it comes to supporting families with young kids, Hochul's promises seem like a breath of fresh air 
. A 2-care program for 2-year-olds in NYC and increasing funding for pre-K could make a huge difference in many lives 
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. She's really taking child care crisis seriously and offering some solid solutions. The 2-care program is genius - who wouldn't want free child care for their 2-yr-old? And boosting funding for the voucher program could be a game-changer for working families.
. According to those stats, nearly a third of women leave the workforce due to unaffordable child care - that's crazy! With universal child care, we could see a major increase in labor participation.
. Hochul is offering some real solutions here and I think with a solid plan in place, we can make this work. The new state office should help streamline things and ensure these programs get off the ground. Fingers crossed! 
I'm all for Hochul's promises, but we need to be careful not to just focus on funding and resources, but also on creating a system that values children's well-being above all else. 
. And 2 fix the 3K program? Yaaas, let's get those supply & demand issues sorted out ASAP! 
I mean, who doesn't wanna have free child care by 2028? 
Every 4-year-old deserves access to that! 
The stats are real & they support Hochul's plans 100%.
the 2-care program is gonna be a game changer for those low-income fams that cant afford childcare now they'll get 2 yrs of free childcare 
Kathy Hochul's plans might not be perfect, but I'm all for giving parents a break and letting them focus on their careers without the added stress of finding affordable childcare 
The 2-care program sounds like a game-changer, especially with the state contributing millions towards it 
so yeah i think its awesome that Hochul is trying to make it universal and affordable... but like what if theres not enough funding? 
im no expert or anything, but 28k more workers could be a huge deal 
! I mean, who wouldn't want more options for families? It's about time we make child care universal and affordable, ya know? 
first off its gonna cost alot more than $425 mil in year 2, thats just a guess tho 
. Let's make child care accessible for all, NY! #ChildCareReform #NYStateOfMind #UniversalAccess