By: Madina Touré

August 19, 2026

NEW YORK — As New York moves toward universal prekindergarten for 4-year-olds, the debate over what comes next is increasingly turning to 3K and how the state can eventually provide free child care for every 3-year-old.

The final state budget that Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers approved earlier this year included a plan to make pre-K universally available to 4-year-olds statewide by the 2028-29 school year, funding to strengthen New York City’s 3K initiative and a new $60 million pilot in Dutchess, Monroe and Broome counties to offer child care for children up to age 3 regardless of income. The state also boosted funding for existing pre-K seats.

But outside of New York City, 96 percent of 3-year-olds do not have access to publicly funded free preschool, according to a December 2025 report by New Yorkers United for Child Care, a parent-led nonprofit.

Rebecca Bailin, the group’s executive director, touted the pilot as a positive step, but called for a statewide pre-K and 3K “guarantee.”

“Now it’s time for [the governor] to both make sure that we can get 3K statewide in a timely fashion and give us a plan for how she actually intends to implement and pay for universal child care statewide,” Bailin said. “Without it, we’re seeing people leave.”

Democratic state Sen. James Skoufis said he had conversations with multiple senior staff in the governor’s office earlier this year who expressed “a significant openness and willingness” to expanding the number of counties receiving pilot funds.

“The next logical step is to extend this momentum to 3K,” Skoufis said. “We should not and cannot create this tiered or bifurcated system where 3-year-olds in the five boroughs get significant state support for child care and those families with a 3-year-old in different zip codes outside of New York City do not.”

Nicolette Simmonds, a spokesperson for the governor, said the pilot will cover 1,000 children per county after three years, and support the expansion of child care infrastructure in those areas. The first seats are scheduled to come online next year.

Since Hochul took office, nearly $12 billion in child care funding has been made available over five years, more than doubling the number of children receiving child care subsidies statewide, she added.

“The number of children in the Hudson Valley region receiving child care subsidies increased by 193 percent,” Simmonds wrote in a statement. “The Governor is committed to working with our partners in local government to realize the promise of universal child care, supporting families in every community.”

Gaps beyond New York City

New York City began rolling out its 3K program in 2017 under former Mayor Bill de Blasio and gradually expanded it. But the program has struggled with a mismatch between the number of child care slots and demand from families.

In May, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans to double the number of 3K seats in underserved areas, using a $100 million investment from the state earlier this year.

But outside of New York City, 3K access isn’t nearly as widespread.

Rochester and Syracuse have relatively robust 3-year-old programs, according to a January report by the Fiscal Policy Institute, an Albany-based think tank.

Beyond these cities, however, access is almost nonexistent.

In 2024, 3-year-olds on Long Island had no access to free 3K, while the Hudson Valley had the second-lowest rate of access in the state at just 1 percent, according to an analysis of state Education Department databy New Yorkers United for Child Care.

A recent report by Hudson Valley for Pattern Progress, a research nonprofit, found that more than 40 percent of families cannot cover basic household expenses, with the rising cost of child care among the biggest drivers. Hudson Valley’s Dutchess County is among the counties in the state’s forthcoming pilot.

The dynamics are similar with respect to universal pre-K for 4-year-olds — Hudson Valley has the second-lowest rate of free pre-K access in the state, at 58 percent, while Long Island is at 66 percent.

Democratic Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, who represents western Nassau County, said more Long Island school districts have moved to full-day pre-K, but that 3K access remains limited.

“We’re not totally there, but we’re close to maximum capacity for every 4-year-old on Long Island, and then we’re hopefully going to continue that fight so we have parity with New York City for 3K,” Solages said.

Lawmakers and advocates attributed the lack of free 3K outside New York City to limited funding and provider capacity. And because much of the care is provided by community-based organizations and child care centers, expanding access also requires enough facilities and workers — a challenge compounded by low wages in the sector.

Pete Nabozny, director of policy at The Children’s Agenda, a Rochester-based policy and advocacy organization, also said the organization had lobbied for a new funding model for pre-K for 4-year-olds to be extended to 3-year-olds, but that did not make it into the final budget.

“That’s gonna be the next struggle around this,” Nabozny said. “When that happens … I think you’ll see more districts opting in.”

Others argued that a pilot approach is wise. Leigh Wedenoja, chief economist at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, an Albany-based think tank, said the 4K expansion plan can inform a 3K expansion.

“The plan is in earlier stages than a lot of people would want it to be,” said Wedenoja, who authored a January report on the status of child care in New York.

Parents outside of New York City touted the child care pilot, but called for deeper investments.

Peekskill resident Nadia Chait, who has a 2-and-half-year-old daughter, said there’s no 3K in her area. Her family spends $23,000 on child care annually.

“It’s great to see the progress that’s been made in the city, but we need that for families across the state,” Chait said.

Alexandra Smith, who resides in northern Dutchess County, said she sends her 3-year-old son to a program in Connecticut because the 3K program in her area doesn’t offer care outside of the school year. She pays for a nanny for her 1-year-old daughter while she works.

Smith urged the state to use the pilot to build a system while providing more startup funding for child care providers in underserved areas.

“It can be really hard to start a child care business because the margins are thin, you’re not gonna make a lot of money,” Smith said. “But it’s so important and it’s such a public good.”

Original story here: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/08/lawmakers-advocates-urge-hochul-to-outline-plans-for-expanding-3k-statewide-01041200