A Five-Year Plan for Universal Public Childcare in New York
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — A five-year plan to give New Yorkers universal public childcare (UPC) could ease financial burdens on families and boost the state’s economy. The plan offers free child care to all families, from birth to age 5, with full-day services and flexible hours.
The Plan
The plan comes from the downstate advocacy group New Yorkers United for Child Care. They held a press conference on November 19 to release a five-year roadmap for phasing in the program:
- Year 1: Free care for ages 3 and up in New York City, expanding preschool access statewide
- Year 2: Free preschool for ages 3 and up, expanding to 2-year-olds
- Years 3 and 4: Free care for children 6 weeks to 2 years old
- Year 5: Full access for all children under 5
State Senators Jabari Brisport, Zellnor Myrie, and Jessica Ramos, and Assemblymembers Zohran Mamdani, Tony Simone, and Michaelle Solages appeared at the press conference to back the plan.
Benefits
The program should pay for itself, according to supporters, with every dollar spent seeing a return on investment of $10 to $13. They project that it would cost around $12.7 billion annually, potentially saving as much as $600 million per year across all families.
Costs
All told, New Yorkers today spend about $14 billion every year on care for kids under 5. In New York City, childcare takes up 25% of household income, while families in the rest of the state spend about 18%. In some cases, it’s already enough to outpace rent or college tuition, but some families face costs twice as high.
Here is a breakdown of the costs for one- and two-child families before kindergarten:
| Children | Type of care | Cost (NYC) | Cost (Outside NYC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One infant | Home | $20,800 | $16,380 |
| One toddler | Home | $18,200 | $15,600 |
| One 3-year-old and one infant | Mixed | $32,800 | $34,060 |
| One 4-year-old and one toddler | Mixed | $28,200 | $33,280 |
| One child in elementary school and one 3-year-old | Afterschool | $12,000 | $17,680 |
| One child in elementary school and one 4-year-old | Afterschool | $10,000 | $17,680 |
| Total home-based care cost | $122,000 | $134,680 | |
| Total center-based care cost | $142,800 | $148,720 |
Conclusion
The UPC plan would offer free, full-day supervision through kindergarten. Child care centers would be installed no more than 15 minutes away, and applications would only ask for proof of age and address. They would operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with options for nontraditional hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much would the plan cost?
A: The plan would cost around $12.7 billion annually.
Q: How would the plan be funded?
A: The plan would be funded through progressive tax rates on top earners, higher capital gains and corporate taxes, and streamlining administrative costs.
Q: Would the plan benefit families with young children?
A: Yes, the plan would offer free childcare to all families with children under 5, with full-day services and flexible hours.
Q: Would the plan benefit the state’s economy?
A: Yes, the plan would help keep families in the workforce, keep businesses staffed, and maintain the tax base for local cities, towns, and villages.
