Early Childhood Education - NYC Bright Starts
NYC Bright Starts provides families residing in New York City, with children aged six weeks to five-years-old, with free or low-cost high-quality early childhood education in a variety of New York City Public School (NYCPS) settings across all five boroughs.
Happening Now
Contract Registration and Bridge Financing
NYC Public Schools and the City are working urgently to move pending contracts and bridge loan applications forward. For eligible providers with contracts pending registration, interest-free bridge financing is available through the City's Returnable Grant Fund.
Already applied? Complete applications are expected to be approved within five business days, provided they clear all necessary reviews. Please monitor your email and respond promptly to requests for additional information.
Start-of-Year Supply Bundles
Start-of-year supply bundles are available for programs and networks that need additional materials. Bundles are available for Infant/Toddler/2-K and 3-K/Pre-K and include materials to support children's learning and development, exploration, and daily care and routines.
Resources
Questions or need support? Contact DECEContracts@schools.nyc.gov.
Our Programs
Our programs and schools provide rich and nurturing learning environments that:
- Honor and celebrate each child and their individual strengths, interests, and culture
- Engage children in learning experiences that foster social-emotional, physical, language, problem solving, literacy, and math skills
- Center strong family partnerships, ensuring two-way communication between families and programs/schools to extend children’s learning at home
- Offer children and their families comprehensive resources and supports based on the individual goals and needs of each family
Enroll Year Round!
Birth-to-Two (B-2) Child Care Initiative
Free, High-Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is continuing the Birth-to-2 (B-2) Initiative, expanding access to free, high-quality care for infants and toddlers through the 2026-2027 school year.
This initiative builds on the City's strong early childhood foundation and supports working families by offering full-day, year-round programs for children ages six weeks to two years old.
Programs are located in community-based sites across the City and were selected based on neighborhood need and available capacity. These seats are funded through the City's continued investment in early care and education.
Who Can Apply
- Families with children ages six weeks to two years at the time of enrollment
- Must live in New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, or Staten Island)
- No other eligibility or income requirements
- Programs are free for families
When to Apply
Families can contact participating programs directly to begin the registration process. Each program will guide families through the required steps, including completing enrollment forms and providing documentation such as proof of residence and proof of the child's age.
NYCPS will continue to share updates with families through participating providers and community partners as the initiative moves forward.
Where Programs Are Located
Programs are located in communities across the City, with a focus on neighborhoods where access to affordable child care has been most limited.
Manhattan
- Central Harlem
- Washington Heights
- Lower East Side
Bronx
- Morrisania
- Eastchester
- Norwood
Brooklyn
- East New York
- Brownsville
- Crown Heights
- Sunset Park
- Flatbush
- Bedford-Stuyvesant
ZIP codes include:
- 10001
- 10002
- 10027
- 10467
- 11207
- 11208
- 11213
- 11220
- 11221
- 11223
- 11230
- 11435
Participating Programs