Portrait of Kathy Hochul
Politician · policy
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Kathy Hochul on Universal Childcare

Strong advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Governor Hochul is strongly committed to delivering comprehensive, affordable, universal childcare for all children under five across New York State.

Key Points

  • She announced a plan that includes a $4.5 billion investment toward delivering statewide universal childcare for children under five.

  • The Governor is committing to ensure truly universal Pre-K access for all four-year-olds in New York State by the 2028-2029 school year.

  • She is partnering with New York City to launch an initiative offering entirely free childcare for two-year-olds in the city, committing to fund the first two years.

Summary

Kathy Hochul has made delivering statewide universal childcare for children under five a core part of her agenda, framing it as an essential step to make life more affordable for New York families. Her approach includes a multi-pronged strategy that encompasses expanding Pre-K access, launching new community pilot programs, and increasing targeted subsidies. This commitment is evidenced by significant financial investments aimed at transforming the current system, which advocates note is strained by high costs and workforce shortages. The Governor explicitly ties childcare access to economic well-being, asserting that without reliable care, parents cannot fill the thousands of open jobs across the state.

This push involves strategic partnerships, most notably with the Mayor of New York City, to extend care options, such as a new initiative to offer free childcare for two-year-olds in the city, and strengthening existing universal Pre-K and 3K programs. Furthermore, the state is implementing pilot partnerships with specific counties outside of NYC to test and expand new models for delivering high-quality, affordable care irrespective of income. An Office of Child Care and Early Education has been established to oversee the complex implementation of these statewide universal childcare goals.

Key Quotes

“Raising a family in New York shouldn't feel like a luxury, and today we're taking another significant step to deliver universal child care,”

Frequently Asked Questions

Governor Hochul is a strong advocate for achieving universal childcare across New York State for all children under the age of five. Her position is centered on making childcare affordable and accessible as essential infrastructure for working families. She has committed significant state funding and established a concrete roadmap to implement this goal statewide.

The Governor is implementing a new State pilot program, committing $60 million in funding across Dutchess, Monroe, and Broome Counties. This initiative is designed to help these counties develop and expand new models for providing high-quality childcare for children aged 0-3, regardless of family income status.

Under her leadership, New York has more than doubled its investment in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) subsidies. This expansion has supported 2.5 times more children than when she took office, with most families served paying no more than $15 per week.