At a City Hall roundtable with ethnic and community media, Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to act quickly as the application window for 3-K and Pre-K (free early childhood programs for three- and four-year-olds) moves toward its February 27, 2026 deadline. Opening the briefing, City Hall communications staff outlined the agenda, followed by remarks from Emmy Liss (Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Child Care), Simone Hawkins (Deputy Chancellor for Early Childhood), and Travanda Kelly (Chief Enrollment Officer, NYC Public Schools), before the mayor shared parent testimonials and took questions focused strictly on registration and child care access.
The mayor framed the message as both practical and urgent: families with children turning three or four at any point in 2026 are eligible, and applying by the deadline guarantees an offer. He emphasized that the program is not first-come, first-served, and described universal child care as a citywide affordability strategy—helping parents return to work, strengthening children’s long-term outcomes, and easing pressure on household budgets in what he called “the most expensive city in the United States.”
City officials highlighted multiple application routes and language access. Families can apply online through MySchools.nyc, by phone at 718-935-2009, or in person at Family Welcome Centers across the five boroughs. The administration stressed that the system is built to serve New Yorkers who may be less connected to government—especially immigrant families and households where English is not the first language—pointing to 13 languages available online and phone interpretation in 200+ languages.
Several questions from reporters focused on barriers that can discourage enrollment, including fear in immigrant communities amid heightened ICE activity, documentation concerns, and confusion about waitlists. The mayor stated that 3-K and Pre-K do not ask for a child’s immigration status, and reiterated New York City’s sanctuary-city policies, including limits on ICE access to schools and other city facilities absent a judicial warrant signed by a judge. On waitlists, enrollment leaders clarified that being waitlisted often means a family received an offer but is queued for a higher-ranked choice; families can track their waitlist position in MySchools, and the waitlist process can continue beyond the main deadline.
The event also underscored City Hall’s reliance on ethnic and community media as “trusted validators” to reach parents who may not follow traditional press conferences or English-language outlets. Officials described an outreach push—posters, street teams, community-based partners, and direct engagement in places like transitional housing—summed up by the mayor’s campaign-style slogan: “GOTC: Get Out the Child Care.”
Key details for families
- Who can apply: Children turning 3 or 4 in 2026
- Deadline: February 27, 2026
- How to apply: MySchools.nyc | 718-935-2009 | Family Welcome Centers
- Language access: Website in 13 languages; phone interpretation in 200+ languages
- Guarantee: Apply by the deadline and you will receive an offer (not first-come, first-served)