New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a pilot program to expand child care in Monroe, Dutchess, and Broome counties, as part of the state’s $4.5 billion universal child care initiative. The pilot program provides $60 million in funding to increase child care options, especially for children ages 0-3, and is intended to support families across all income levels, as per the Governor’s Office release.
In addition, Hochul recently opened The Irene Skalny Childcare Center in Penfield, a YMCA facility funded with more than $1.5 million in state support. The center serves children from 6 weeks to 5 years old and is located near the Eastside Family YMCA.
The Governor’s Office also announced plans to implement Truly Universal Pre-K by the 2028-2029 school year, which would provide Pre-K access to all 4-year-olds in New York. Child care subsidies have been increased, now supporting 2.5 times more children than when Hochul first took office, raising total funding to over $3 billion. The initiative also includes efforts to strengthen the child care workforce…