Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education meeting
March 2, 2026, 10:00 AM
The subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the path to universal child care and heard six bills covering childcare permitting, childcare at public meetings, family outreach, a citywide child care oversight office, department reporting, and a pilot for converting commercial premises to child care use. It also held a pre-considered hearing on Res 0365-2026 (state child care licensing legislation) and heard Res 0165-2026 calling on the State to establish universal pre-K funding.
What was discussed
- Speaker Menin and Chair Gutiérrez open the first Early Childhood Education Subcommittee hearing Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, chair of the newly created Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education, opened its first-ever hearing on the path to universal child care and a package of eight bills. Menin argued universal child care is an economic necessity—citing roughly
- Mayor's Office of Child Care lays out the universal child care vision and reacts to the bills Emmy Liss, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, testified alongside Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins that the Mamdani administration's over $1.2 billion state commitment will stabilize child care vouchers, guarantee 3K and Pre-K seats this fall, and
- Is the administration finally complying with the 2022 Universal Child Care Act? Speaker Menin pressed Emmy Liss on the Child Care Advisory Board and portals created by the 2022 law that the prior administration left unimplemented. Liss said her office has been meeting with providers and advocates and will formally reconstitute the advisory board, working with the Council to
- What are the city's 3K capacity targets, and what should the reporting bill require? Council Member Lincoln Restler questioned the administration on 3K seat capacity by district—noting only about a third of districts filled more than 90 percent of seats—and on his bill, Intro. 631, requiring New York City Public Schools to report on Early Childhood Education seat availability
- How will the city serve preschoolers with disabilities as it expands? Council Member Rita Joseph pressed the administration on services for children with disabilities, referencing the Council's disability framework and the persistent shortage of preschool special-education seats. Deputy Chancellor Hawkins and Dr. Jessica Wallenstein described an early-intervention
- How can vacant space and empty centers be turned into child care seats? Council Member Gale Brewer questioned the administration about vacant child care centers and unfilled seats and the challenge of finding suitable space, tying it to Speaker Menin's Intro. 8 pilot to convert vacant commercial premises for child care use. The administration agreed space is a
- Has outreach and enrollment for 3K and Pre-K improved? Council Members Kayla Santosuosso and Justin Sanchez questioned the administration on family outreach and enrollment, with Santosuosso saying this year's outreach was 'night and day' from prior years after families had missed out before. The administration described its multi-channel
- Providers and teachers detail the workforce pay and cash-flow crisis Center- and community-based providers testified that low, unequal pay and late payments threaten the system. Anna Succes, a Pre-K teacher at Queensview Nursery School with 25 years' experience, said she earns roughly half of a comparable DOE teacher's $140,000 with no pension; Kamila Faruki of
- Family child care advocates warn a contract-based 2K could destabilize the sector Advocates for family child care—largely run by immigrant women and women of color—urged the city not to repeat the losses of the 3K rollout. Ramon Peguero of the Community for Hispanic Children and Families said 80 percent of family child care programs are independent and largely unsupported, with
- Disability advocates urge inclusion be built into universal child care from the start Lori Podvesker of Include NYC testified that despite good intentions the city has historically failed children under five with disabilities, with thousands denied placements or full IEP services and preschoolers sitting on wait lists, and urged that disability inclusion be embedded in the system's
- Providers, unions, and advocates broadly back the universal child care package Dozens more providers, coalitions, unions, parents, and civic groups testified in support of the bills and universal child care while stressing workforce investment, timely funding, and inclusive access. Voices included Gregory Brender of the Day Care Council of New York, Kate Hoy on preschool
Agenda
9 items
- Res 0365-2026 Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.1994/A.2218, to remove the minimum wage and hours requirements for applicants of child care assistance Hearing on P-C Item by Comm
- Res 0165-2026 Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation to amend the Worker’s Compensation Law, in relation to allowing unused Paid Family Leave to be transferred to grandparents and other designated caregivers Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0631-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to report on early childhood education seat availability, outreach, and staff vacancies Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0580-2026 A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office of child care and early childhood education to oversee the planning and implementation of child care for any child who resides in the city at no cost to a parent, stepparent, guardian, or relative of such child Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0579-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an education and outreach campaign to enroll students in early childhood education programs Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0128-2026 A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to childcare services at public meetings Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0009-2026 A Local Law in relation to a study and report on the processes for obtaining permits and licenses or registrations to operate a child care program Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0008-2026 A Local Law in relation to establishing a pilot program to make vacant commercial premises suitable for use by child care programs Hearing Held by Committee
- T2026-1179 Oversight - The Path to Universal Child Care. Hearing Held by Committee