Administration to Strategically Realign Head Start Program to Prioritize Services for Children Who Need Them Most, Expand Early Head Start for Younger Children
Our Bureau
New York, NY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced new investments in his upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget totaling $167 million to support young children and their families and strengthen funding to preserve and protect critical early childhood education programing benefiting the most vulnerable children across the five boroughs. These investments include committing — for the first time — to annual funding for a citywide 3-K expansion and for pre-K students with disabilities to ensure continuity. Additionally, New York City Public Schools will be conducting a strategic realignment of the federally funded Head Start program to expand Early Head Start for younger children.
“To truly make New York City the best place to raise a family, we know we must invest in our children’s future, and today, we’re making bold investments in early childhood education — to ensure our youngest students have the tools they need to succeed, and so parents don’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their children,” said Mayor Adams. “For the first time ever, we’re baselining nearly $170 million annually to support critical programs like pre-K special education and expand citywide 3-K, and ensuring this funding becomes a permanent part of our city’s budget so that the programs can and will be maintained for years to come. We’re also working strategically to promote equity and high-impact outcomes for our youngest learners by planning ahead to buffer anticipated changes in federal Head Start funding, and we’ll be working closely with families to make sure they’re informed about Head Start and all the early childhood education options available to them. Our administration understands what families need, as well as the courage and conviction to do what’s right to continue delivering for working-class New Yorkers, every day, everywhere.”
“As a working mom, I know firsthand how hard it can be to balance a career and raising a family in New York City. That’s why investing in early childhood education isn’t just policy — it’s personal,” said Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. “For the first time, our administration is committing nearly $170 million every year to essential programs like pre-K special education and expanding 3-K access across the city. These bold investments ensure our kids have the foundation they need to succeed. Our Head Start program is vital, particularly for our most vulnerable New Yorkers, and I understand firsthand the importance of finding programs that meet our families’ needs in their own neighborhoods. We are thrilled to announce that our administration is committing to securing funding for these programs, ensuring that every family can feel confident knowing their child has access to a quality program in their community.”
Over the FY 2025 budget cycle, Mayor Adams protected more than $600 million in key, long-term education programs that had been previously funded with expiring stimulus dollars by making investments in Summer Rising, a citywide 3-K expansion, special education pre-K, community schools, social workers, and arts education. This investment included one-time funding of $92 million to support a citywide 3-K expansion. Additionally, the Adams administration invested $20 million to ensure that every student on a 3-K waitlist was offered a seat, and $55 million to provide more than 700 new seats for three- and four-year-olds with special needs. In his upcoming FY 2026 Executive Budget, Mayor Adams will baseline funding for these crucial programs for the first time ever in city history to support children and families and keep the promise that every child who wants an early childhood seat will have access to one, now and in the future.
Mayor Adams is also committed to ensuring that all children receive high-quality educational services, with a focus on providing the highest level of support to the city’s most vulnerable children and families. Head Start is a critical lifeline for thousands of New York’s children under the age of five. To extend federal funding for the program, and in response to historic utilization rates, New York City Public Schools reapplied for Head Start this year with the Administration for Children & Families — located within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — to prioritize an expansion of Early Head Start, which serves infants and toddlers under the age of three.
As Mayor Adams has repeatedly said, every child who needs an Early Childhood Education seat should be offered a seat, and the transition to a new mix of seats for older and younger children will be carefully managed to minimize disruptions, with clear guidance and alternative placements for affected families. Accordingly, New York City Public Schools will help families explore the available Early Head Start, Head Start, 3-K, and pre-K options, and is engaging with providers, elected officials, and families to ensure transparency and support throughout the process. The fiscal implications to the city will be determined after the federal government responds to the grant application.
