Lander proposes $1.3 billion preschool plan for NYC

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander has proposed a significant new plan to expand universal preschool to include 2-year-olds. If elected mayor, he aims to implement this initiative with a budget of $1.3 billion, seeking funding support from state lawmakers. Lander's plan, which he plans to detail on Friday, builds on a statewide push for a “2-K” program. It includes partnerships with child care centers and home providers to create more preschool seats. He envisions full-day programs starting in underserved neighborhoods and gradually expanding to the entire city. Lander believes this initiative is crucial as many families struggle with rising living costs in New York City. He sees 2-K as a stepping stone towards achieving universal child care access. However, he has not specified how long the city-wide rollout might take or the exact amount of state funding he would need. In addition to his 2-K proposal, Lander aims to increase the number of seats in 3-K programs by 16,000. He believes this will help more families connect with local child care options. Lander also supports expanding afterschool programs for elementary and middle school students, along with summer programs like Summer Rising. The proposal comes amid criticism of current Mayor Eric Adams for not following through on plans to expand early childhood education due to budget constraints. This opens the door for other candidates to address education and affordability in their campaigns. Other candidates, including former governor Andrew Cuomo, are also presenting child care plans. This includes creating more 3-K seats and increasing child care subsidies. However, experts have expressed concerns about linking child care directly to employment. Despite challenges in funding and program stability, Lander remains hopeful about securing state resources. He believes investing in child care is essential for working families in New York. Advocates like Rebecca Bailin emphasize the urgency of acting on existing child care programs without waiting for state action.