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Mayor Adams expands early childhood education access, saves five centers from closure

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor Melissa Avilés-Ramos have launched a major initiative to expand early childhood education access while securing the continued operation of five community-based centers that were on the brink of closure due to expiring leases and rising rents.

As part of the city’s $100 million investment in child care, Adams announced a $5 million outreach campaign targeting communities with historically low early education application rates. The initiative includes email and phone campaigns, in-person enrollment events, and multilingual application support to ensure every eligible family has access to early childhood programs.

At the same time, the city reached tentative lease agreements to keep five early childhood centers open, including All My Children Day Care (Queens), Fort Greene Council Young Minds Day Care (Brooklyn), Friends of Crown Heights Educational Center (Brooklyn), Grand Street Settlement (Brooklyn), and Nuestros Niños Day Care Center (Brooklyn).

These centers faced potential closure due to rent increases averaging $1 million per year. The agreements, following negotiations with landlords and providers, will allow them to remain operational for the upcoming school year.

Since 2022, the Adams administration has enrolled 150,000 children, reduced child care costs by over 90%, and secured funding to stabilize programs previously reliant on temporary federal aid. The administration will also host five borough-wide events beginning February 15, 2025, focusing on neighborhoods with low early education enrollment rates.

City leaders praised the initiative, with Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph calling it “a testament to the tireless advocacy of early childhood providers and families.” However, pressure remains on City Hall to secure long-term funding solutions to prevent future instability in the city’s early childhood education system.