BY ESTHER BOILEAU
Council members of the subcommittee for early childhood education came forward to talk about the expansion of 2k enrollment and the failure to reimburse workers. One of the bigger challenges facing the program.
Earlier this year in April, Mayor Mamdani announced that this fall, his administration would launch a free 2K program starting with 2,000 seats in five districts, including District 6 in Manhattan and District 10 in the Bronx. These programs would run on a full-day, full-year schedule in partnership with NYC Public Schools and funding from the state. The success of the program depends on its expansion.
Wednesday’s hearing focused on payment delays for education workers and the plan to expand the program by 2,000 seats to 12,000 seats by fall 2027.
Henry Rubio, president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, spoke about the delayed payment of providers. “The financial difficulties that providers once again face demonstrate why the city’s council’s oversight matters,” Rubio stated when he testified to the council.
Emmy Liss, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, said the city offered additional contracts for providers who weren’t getting paid. As a short-term solution, she said, the city expedited interest-free bridge loans, as well as direct assistance to help programs prepare for the school year.
Erica Phillips, Deputy Chancellor of Early Childhood Education, spoke to the financial strains. “The city took steps to help programs manage those immediate pressures while contracts and payments moved forward,” she said.
Phillips also spoke about the expansion and how public schools plan to support the program. By hiring over 200 employees across Early Childhood and other agency offices, she said, the city is showing its commitment to provider stability.
“Our ability to expand 2K depends on a strong network of community-based organizations and family child care programs that can continue to deliver high- quality care for children and families,” Phillips stated.
The challenges that come with contracting and payments may be the biggest hurdle in the infrastructure as plans for expansion will continue to accelerate.
For families solving this this could bring the city one step closer to Mayor Mamdani’s goal of universal child care, and free high quality childcare.