NEW YORK, N.Y. (October 5, 2026) — In response to New York City’s announcement that it will move 10,000 children ages 6 weeks to 13 years off the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) waitlist, public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement:
“Today’s announcement is a major step toward getting more than 10,000 children off New York City’s child care assistance waitlist. Families that have for too long been stretching household budgets and piecing together care will now have more stability. We commend Mayor Mamdani for showing what is possible when government is committed not only to listening, but also acting on what parents and child care providers are saying they need.
“AQE is proud to be a convening member of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, the statewide coalition of parents, providers, and advocates whose organizing helped build much of the momentum behind today’s announcement and the broader push for universal child care across New York State. For the past two years, we have been fighting to ensure that there is enough funding in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) so there are no children on waiting lists anywhere in the state, including New York City.
“The next step is to turn today’s relief into lasting public infrastructure through reliable CCAP funding and permanent statewide compensation for early childhood educators. Families need a system they can count on, and educators need stable careers that allow them to remain in the work. A child’s learning begins long before their first day in formal schooling. The educators caring for our youngest New Yorkers are part of the same journey that carries them from diapers through graduation diplomas, and New York State should fund that foundational work accordingly. The CCAP program ensures that program providers are paid and that families have a spot for their children. Child care must be treated and funded as a public good, with families able to rely on it regardless of income rather than being left to piece together as much care as they can afford.
“Universal child care means child care that is available to every family without a price tag standing in the way, and thriving wages and benefits for the child care workforce. Our state has the wealth to make truly universal child care a reality. We will keep fighting alongside families and providers until it does.”