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New York State Reports

Fact Sheets: The State of Early Intervention by County in New York

July 8, 2026

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found, as have others, that when children with developmental delays and disabilities receive EI therapies, they are significantly more likely to meet proficiency standards in third grade language arts and math, resulting in compounded savings in the PK-12 system.

Despite the importance of this program and the IDEA’s legal mandate, New York State has repeatedly failed to make the necessary investments to ensure Early Intervention providers are there when children need them.

This is the first time we have had this amount of data about Early Intervention at the county level. Our team has done the research so that you – families, advocates, policymakers, and community members – can view the latest information about the state of Early Intervention in every county, and how each county compares to statewide data.

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TCA’s Statement on the NYS 2026-27 Enacted Budget

June 1, 2026

The Children’s Agenda is grateful for the groundbreaking investments in New York’s child care system in the SFY27 enacted budget. Proposed by the Governor and with full support from the legislature, the $3 billion dedicated to the program is a significant milestone on the path to achieving universal child care. We are disappointed that there were no new investments in the child care workforce and are concerned that the fragile condition of the workforce will be a barrier to the success of this initiative.
Similarly, we applaud the $1.6 billion investment in New York’s Universal Pre-K program, enabling the program to serve nearly all 4-year-olds in the state. The Children’s Agenda is disappointed that State leaders failed to ensure equity for three-year-old children in need of Pre-K programs outside of New York City. To achieve a truly universal Pre-K system, New York State must increase per-pupil rates for all pre-kindergarteners.
With the Early Intervention program, so effective in helping infants and toddlers get developmentally on track, only level-funded at $205 million, we are deeply concerned that the state is leaving behind thousands of children and families whose rights to those services and therapies are neglected in this budget.

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person walking on road beside cars

NYC CCAP Funding Needs Memo

April 1, 2026

Enrollment in New York State’s Child Care Assistance Program has grown substantially over the past several years. Reforms enacted by Governor Hochul and the state legislature since 2021 expanded eligibility for assistance to more families, lowered co-pays for families enrolled in the program and increased reimbursement rates for providers. These efforts, coupled with unprecedented increases in state funding for the program, have helped over 100,000 more children benefit from the Child Care Assistance Program today than when Governor Hochul took office in 2021.

While enrollment has increased throughout New York State, the most significant growth has occurred in New York City. Child Care Assistance Program participation (also known as the “voucher” program within New York City) increased from 39,163 in September 2021 to 112,135 in January 2026. Unfortunately, demand for child care assistance began to exceed available funding during late-2024. In June 2025, New York City closed enrollment to the program for most new applicants and established a waiting list for families who completed applications and qualified for assistance. From June 2025 to March 2026, 17,100 children have been placed on the City’s Child Care Assistance Program wait list.

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Fact Sheet: Universal Pre-Kindergarten Funding in New York State

March 31, 2026

Inadequate per-pupil rates and structural flaws in New York’s approach to funding Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) have significantly slowed expansion outside of New York City. Paired with her push for universal child care, Governor Hochul has committed to finally achieving a universal pre-kindergarten program for all four-year-olds statewide by the 2028-2029 school year. To further strengthen the Governor’s proposal, The Children’s Agenda recommends higher per-pupil rates for districts’ three-year-old programs (3K), and additional structures to support inclusion of students with disabilities and community-based organizations in the UPK system.

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2025 Impact Update

March 23, 2026

Every sturdy structure begins with a strong foundation, and every meaningful change in the lives of children and families starts the same way: with people who believe it is possible, and who commit themselves to making it real.

That is the spirit behind this year’s Impact Report, and its theme: Building Blocks of Progress.

Throughout 2025, we continued to focus on initiatives that create positive, long-term change for children and families across New York state. Because persistent structural and racial inequities result in worse outcomes for children of color and minoritized children especially, we work to center the voices and lived experiences of families in everything we do, from local neighborhoods to the state capitol. Our strengths in policy-driven research, effective organizing, and impactful advocacy are only as powerful as the community of people and organizations that stand behind them.

We also know that this work does not happen in a vacuum. Political headwinds shift. Budgets are contested. Hard-won progress is sometimes threatened. But our answer remains the same, regardless of any one election or new law: we keep fighting for children, we keep building power, we keep exposing cruelty, and we keep making the case for policies that work.

We never give up on a New York where every child thrives.

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TCA’s Response to the NYS Senate and Assembly One-House Budget Proposals

March 17, 2026

We applaud both the NYS Senate and Assembly for building on Governor Hochul’s proposed budget with bold investments that will transform the lives of children and families across New York. At the same time, we believe there are missed opportunities for New York’s children and families.

Read more to find out what The Children’s Agenda supports in the One-House budget proposals.

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SNS Fact Sheet for New York in 2024-25

March 2, 2026

In New York, students are suspended from schools in response to a wide range of behaviors, including minor infractions like being late to class and dress code violations. This form of punishment begins as early as Pre-Kindergarten. The overreliance on exclusionary discipline continues despite research that indicates suspensions are ineffective and harmful and that they deepen academic inequities, especially for students of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities.

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Rural Realities: The State of Child Care in Rural Western New York

February 12, 2026

Like their peers living in urban and suburban areas, young children in rural communities deserve high-quality early education, and their families deserve reliable child care that allows them to work or pursue an education.

Unfortunately, while many rural child care providers offer safe and nurturing care to families in their communities despite having fewer resources and supports, the availability of child care in rural communities is also more limited than in suburban and urban communities, especially for children with developmental delays and disabilities. Structural issues with the way New York State funds child care assistance also reduce the ability of low- and moderate-income families to access care in these communities.

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Fact Sheet: Child Care Challenges at the County Level

January 23, 2026

Child care is a critical support for families with young children, employers, and New York State’s economy. The State made substantial investments in the child care system in the past few years, but this progress is threatened by significant issues related to cost and capacity. To address these challenges and ensure families have access to the care they need, policymakers must make critical investments in the 26-27 NYS Budget to bolster the child care workforce and stabilize the Child Care Assistance Program.

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TCA’s Response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State Address

January 15, 2026

In her 2026 State of the State address, Governor Kathy Hochul proposed bold investments that will profoundly and positively impact children, families, and our economy across the state for generations to come. In a time of real setbacks from the current federal administration, we applaud Governor Hochul’s leadership and determination to fight for families.

Read more to find out what we’re applauding this year, what we believe is missing, and what New York voters say they want from State leaders in this year’s budget.

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New York State Child Care for All

November 20, 2025

New York is presented with an unprecedented opportunity to achieve universal child care. In January 2025—and many times since—Governor Hochul has committed to achieving universal child care statewide, and her own Child Care Availability Task Force (CCATF) released a Roadmap for Universal Child Care. Among State legislators, there is strong support for investment in child care, and for achieving a universal system.

In New York City, Mayor-elect Mamdani has made universal child care a cornerstone of his affordability agenda, and a top priority of his first term. He and Governor Hochul have committed to working together to achieve this shared goal—in New York City, and around the state.

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Reports by Area

Reports by Agenda Item