Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Mamdani promises to fix NYC’s childcare payment mess before 2-K launch
By
Jessica Gould
Published Aug 31, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Kara McCurdy, Mayoral Photography Office.
By
Jessica Gould
Published Aug 31, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is promising to fix the city’s childcare payment problems before the first day of school amid concerns that delayed funds could threaten the rollout of his highly anticipated free 2-K program.
Many early childhood centers serving the city’s two, three, and four-year-olds said they had not received city funding they’re owed, making it difficult or even impossible to serve families as the new school year kicks off Sept. 10th. The city had promised some centers bridge loans to cover the funding gap, but owners said that money had not come through either. Some providers said they were taking out personal loans or dipping into savings to get their classrooms in order.
On Monday, Mamdani promised a “whole of government” effort to expedite payments and supplies while also investing $43 million in the education department to improve procurement for early childhood programs.
“I just want to be very clear that the delays that we are discussing are unacceptable and ever since these were identified, we have been working around the clock to ensure that they were fixed for the upcoming school year, and also that they are fixed in general,” Mamdani said.
He promised that the city would be hiring 200 more employees in the office in charge of processing contracts and payments. He said the city is also expediting loans and sending supplies directly to providers.
Mamdani has made expanding free childcare to two-year-olds a top priority of his affordability agenda. The program is scheduled to launch next week with 2,000 seats in Upper Manhattan, the Bronx, Southeast Queens, and Central and Eastern Brooklyn. It is set to expand to 12,000 seats. In a celebratory press conference days after Mamdani took office, Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged funding to support the program’s first two years.
But the city’s early childhood division has been plagued by persistent problems with late payments and bureaucratic dysfunction that some providers said have brought them to the brink of closure. A few have closed.
Lori Cangiolose, director at The Playgroup Experience in Staten Island, said she’d already spent hours Monday afternoon going back-and-forth with education department staff to help them process paperwork she submitted months ago. She said she’s been waiting for the city to sign off on the papers so that they can start cutting the checks she needs for staff, snacks, gas and electricity.
“It’s a mess,” she said.
Cangiolose, whose program serves three- and four-year-olds, said the red tape has been a huge problem for childcare providers for years. Her colleague said expanding the fragile early childhood system to 2-K is like putting new furniture under a leaky roof.
She said she agrees with the mayor that changes must be made to staffing, procurement and communication with providers. “I’m sure there’s more to be done, but that’s the minimum,” she said.
The payment debacle comes amid turbulence in the city’s early childhood division. This summer, deputy chancellor of early childhood education Simone Hawkins announced she will step down in September, prompting concerns from some parents and educators about the rollout.
The 2-K initiative is also being overseen by New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels and Office of Childcare executive director Emmy Liss.
Tagged
economy
education
new york city
prekindergarten
Jessica Gould
Jessica is the education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica reported on the shutdown and reopening of the nation’s largest school system, highlighting the unprecedented impacts on learning, health and mental health for students, staff and families. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .