NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits Fordham Manor Church in Fordham Manor on Sunday, June 7, 2026, in celebration of its 330th anniversary. The mayor used the occasion to remind parents of School District 10, which includes Fordham, that as of June 2, 2026, applications are open for the City’s first, free 2-K childcare seats through June 26, 2026. V1 Video by Síle Moloney

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced June 2 that applications are now open for the City’s first 2-K free childcare seats.

 

“Today, for the first time, families across NYC can begin applying for free child care for their two-year-old, making the dream of 2-K in NYC finally a reality,” said Hochul. “No parent should have to choose between a job they love and a child they can’t afford to care for. That’s why we’re putting this city and state on a path to universal child care, delivering relief for working families and ensuring every kid gets the strong start they deserve.”

 

Meanwhile, the mayor said, “Ask any parent of a young child, and they will tell you the same thing: child care has been too hard to find and too expensive for far too long. That is why, from the very start of my administration, we made universal child care a top priority. In partnership with Governor Hochul, this fall, 2,000 families will have access to free 2-K seats, and next year that number will grow to 12,000 families in every borough. Today’s application launch brings us closer to a city where every family can access they need and every child gets the strongest possible start.”

NYC MAYOR ZOHRAN Mamdani visits Fordham Manor Church in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx 6/7/2026 to mark its 330th anniversary on Sunday, June 7, 2026, and to remind parents that they have through June 26, 2026, to sign up for free 2-K childcare in School District 10. V2 Video by Síle Moloney

During a visit to Fordham Manor Church, located at 2705 Reservoir Avenue in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx, on June 7, the mayor urged parents to sign their kids up since Fordham Manor is one of the neighborhoods that falls into School District 10, one of the first four school districts across the City that will receive the first 2,000 2-K seats this fall, as reported.

 

The visit coincided with the church’s 330th anniversary! “This is a special moment for our congregation and our community, 330 years of God’s faithfulness in this neighborhood, and the Mayor of New York City is coming to mark it with us,” a church announcement read. “Please invite your friends, family, and neighbors to join us for this historic occasion.👏🏽”

 

The announcement continued, “Mayor Mamdani will also share information about the City’s new 2-K program, free, full-day childcare for 2-year-olds now available right here in The Bronx (District 10). Applications are open now through June 26, so if you or someone you know has a 2-year-old, this is a great opportunity to learn more.” Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Sen. Robert Jackson (S.D. 31), and City Council Member Pierina Sanchez (C.D. 14) were also in attendance.

NYC MAYOR ZOHRAN Mamdani visits Fordham Manor Church in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx 6/7/2026 to mark its 330th anniversary on Sunday, June 7, 2026, and to remind parents that they have through June 26, 2026, to sign up for free 2-K childcare in School District 10. He is later blessed by the congregation. V3 Video by Síle Moloney

Prior to the church visit, the mayor ran the “2K for 2-K” race at Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan along with Jackson, who recently won his Democratic primary, as reported.

 

During his remarks at the church, the mayor joked that younger parents would no longer be able to use lack of affordable childcare as an excuse when asked by their parents as to why they were not producing grandchildren for them.

 

After the service, in reference to the anniversary, one church attendee, Olga Rodriguez, commented to Norwood News, “I’m surprised that we didn’t receive a proclamation, not this 2-K thing. That was what we were told, so I’m a little surprised at the whole thing but no, it was nice that he came here. I was expecting him to read the proclamation, so that’s what I’m a little confused about that he visited.”

 

Asked if she agreed with the 2-K childcare program, she said she did, adding that she had previously worked for the Department of Education (DOE). “I was there for the 3-K program, so it’s nice that they’re making it affordable” Rodriguez said.

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits Mosholu Montefiore Community Center in Norwood on Thursday, June 11, 2026, to remind parents that they have through June 26, 2026, to sign up for free 2-K childcare in School District 10. V1 Video by Síle Moloney

Norwood News asked if she felt there was reticence among parents to sign up for the program giving the long tour across the City by the mayor to promote it and if so, why she believed that might be the case. “First of all, I don’t think there are enough programs, even though they’re saying there’s programs,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of times, the parents go to sign up and they’re full because you can only have a certain amount of kids.”

 

She added, “For 3-K, you only have a small group so 2-K, I’m assuming it’s about the same, so it’s great that they’re saying that, but where are the childcare facilities? Are there enough to cover the number of children that need the services? That’s, I think, the thing that disappoints parents.”

 

Norwood News asked if she meant a lack of facilities or a lack of staffing in terms of the ratio of care assistants to kids, in that parents may be concerned for the welfare of their kids if the latter. Rodriguez said she doesn’t think there are enough brick and mortar facilities. “I experienced that when I was working for 3-K placement; they were full and too far from where they [the kids] lived, because you want something that you get out and it’s only a few blocks away, not that you have to go to another borough, and that might be the case,” she said.

 

During his remarks, the mayor had said the first four school districts referenced above were prioritized to meet the needs of those who most needed help with childcare across the City. In the meantime, Norwood News had also reached out to City Hall for comment on the proclamation point and the availability of close childcare facilities for residents of School District 10, and will share any feedback we receive.

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits Mosholu Montefiore Community Center in Norwood on Thursday, June 11, 2026, to remind parents that they have through June 26, 2026, to sign up for free 2-K childcare in School District 10. V2 Video by Síle Moloney

Outside the church, Norwood News also spoke to Jackson and asked him for his reasons for backing NY-13 congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier who, as reported, beat long-time incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the NY-13 Democratic Primary on June 23. Read his response here. Chevalier also made reference to the senator in a video message the night before the election. Read more here.

 

As reported, in March, the mayor had visited another childcare center on Bronx Community College campus in University Heights to promote that Bronx School District 10 was among those first four communities citywide to receive free 2-K seats this fall. Bronx’s School District 10 covers Fordham, Belmont, Norwood, Marble Hill, Morris Heights, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, Van Cortlandt Village and Kingsbridge, as well as parts of Kingsbridge Heights, Bedford Park, Mount Hope, Claremont-Bathgate & East Tremont.

 

Other districts in School District 6 covering Northern Manhattan, School Districts 18 and 23 in Brooklyn and School District 27 in Queens.

 

City officials said the latest June 2 announcement was to raise awareness to families that applications for 2-K are open and will remain open through June 26 at myschools.nyc. As a further reminder, the mayor, accompanied by local State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), also paid a visit to Mosholu Montefiore Community Center in Norwood on Thursday, June 11, where, sporting a Knicks vest under his suit, Mamdani met with staff and interacted with some of the children attending daycare there. He also spoke to some parents who were in the process of enrolling their children in the 2-K program. See attached videos for more.

Norwood News spoke to Rivera and asked him if he knew if there was reticence by parents in signing-up to the program. “This is just about an effort to make sure that as many people that can avail themselves of this do so,” Rivera said. “The fact is… this is kind of an extension…slowly but surely.. we’re doing it, starting it in the [inaudible] Bronx communities. We’re extremely thankful to the mayor for keepin’ a promise that he made while he was running.”

The senator continued, “This is one of the first steps so we have all these different neighborhoods [lists School District 10, as listed above], all which are either wholly or partly in my district so I’m working really closely with the administration to make sure that they get the information out as [widely] as possible everyone has until June 26 to sign up either by phone or online but if they need help, they can always get in touch with my office. Everyday we connect people with the services and this is just one more. Incredibly thankful to the mayor for making it happen.”

 

Mamdani and Hochul announced what they described as the historic launch of 2-K just eight days after the mayor took office, along with a $1.2 billion investment by the State for child care in New York City. As reported, the program will begin with 2,000 free seats this fall, and expand to full universality over the next four years.

 

NEW YORK CITY Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits Mosholu Montefiore Community Center in Norwood on Thursday, June 11, 2026, to remind parents that they have through June 26, 2026, to sign up for free 2-K childcare in School District 10. V3 Video by Síle Moloney

In April, Mamdani announced that a majority of the seats would be offered as full-day programs operating from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 260 days per year. City officials said families can enroll in 2-K through center-based programs and licensed family child care homes.

 

Families can apply for 2-K seats in School Districts 6, 10, 18, 23 and 27 through June 26 with offers released in August. Applications can be submitted through MySchools, by calling (718) 935-2009, or by visiting one of the City’s Family Welcome Centers.