More than 780,000 public schoolchildren in New York City returned to classrooms on Thursday, marking the first day of the school year amid the launch of the city’s inaugural free child care program for 2-year-olds. The 2-K initiative, a key priority of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration, aims to expand universal child care from infancy through kindergarten. However, the program’s rollout has been complicated by significant funding delays, prompting concerns among providers and families.

Approximately 2,000 children enrolled in the new 2-K program, joining existing 3-K and pre-K services primarily located in four predominantly low-income neighborhoods. More than 5,700 families applied for enrollment, and the mayor plans to add 10,000 additional seats next year. Despite the program’s importance, many day care centers have struggled to open due to late payments from the city, with some directors resorting to personal loans or asking staff to work without pay. At least one 2-K center remained closed Thursday because it could not cover operational costs.

Patricia Chin, director of two Brooklyn day care sites offering 2-K, said she had depleted her personal savings to cover monthly expenses exceeding $130,000. “It is bad not knowing, especially for the wages and the rent,” she said. Similarly, Anna Marie Alleyne, who runs two Brooklyn centers serving 186 children in pre-K and 3-K, said her centers’ nearly $300,000 monthly costs could not be met without timely funding. Her staff went unpaid in August, leading to resignations and deep morale issues.

The financial delays come amid a backlog in registering contracts with the New York City Comptroller’s Office, a required step for disbursing funds. Only about 10 percent of contracts had been registered by September, contributing to the holdup. The administration has encouraged providers to apply for interest-free bridge loans, some of which have now been approved and issued, though often too late for necessary purchases such as furniture and classroom materials.

Mayor Mamdani acknowledged the challenges during a news conference alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. He stated more than 500 day care contracts were registered and over 300 bridge loans distributed to cover a month’s expenses, adding, “I am fully confident in our team in continuing that work.” The mayor also said additional staff had been redirected to expedite contract processing and payment releases, and a new head of the Department of Education’s early childhood division, Erica Phillips, was appointed last week.

Some day care providers reported partial progress, but others faced continued uncertainty. Candie Woo of Little Tulip Daycare Center in Queens said she was pressured by city officials to open without secured funding or risk losing her students to other centers, despite her significant financial concerns. Meanwhile, several centers remained closed Thursday, and more than 20 early childhood workers gathered outside City Hall to protest unpaid wages and the ongoing financial strain.

Parents were generally enthusiastic about the new program but some expressed hesitancy. Sarah Henderson, a mother in Manhattan’s Inwood neighborhood, declined a 2-K seat for her daughter because her current care provider was not part of the program and she was unfamiliar with most of the home-based sites included in the initiative.

The expansion to serve 2-year-olds presents additional challenges including higher staffing ratios, as city regulations require one caregiver per six children at this age, compared to one per ten for 3-year-olds. Despite these obstacles, many families remain hopeful that the program will ease child care costs, which often represent the largest household expense after housing in New York City.

On Thursday morning, 2-K students at the Friends of Crown Heights center in Inwood began their first day with activities including snack time and music. Parent Sepporah Harkless said securing a 2-K seat allowed her to return to work. Attendance, however, was below capacity at some sites, reflecting both logistical hurdles and lingering uncertainty among families and providers alike.