Infant Leadership Circle/ Policy

By: Rachel Roberts, NYZTT ILC Chair

Last week, New York State Lawmakers passed the final NYS FY 2027 Budget. The $268.5 billion spending plan includes a great deal of wins for the early childhood education community as we start down the road of implementing universal child care. 

Some exciting highlights:

  • A little over $3 billion going into the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

  • Of that, two supplemental funds: 

  • $475 million for FFY 2026 and 2027 for NYC (100% NYC match), and

  • $155 million for FFY 2026 and 2027 for counties outside of NYC (no match)

  • Language that additional funding could be used in the current fiscal year and next year’s fiscal year

  • Create Contracted Pilot Programs for Child Care. Separate from New York City’s 2-Care program, the State will work with Dutchess, Monroe, and Broome counties to develop additional child care pilot programs. The plan shall permit each participating county to contract with a child care resource and referral agency to administer the project and shall require reimbursement of no more than ninety percent of eligible expenditures of each participating county. Up to ten percent of allocated funds for each pilot project may be used for the administration of such projects. The Executive Budget includes $66 million to develop and administer these pilot programs.

  • Expand Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarships to early childhood educators: Expands eligibility for the scholarship to individuals seeking a master’s degree in early childhood education. The bill allows individuals who earn such a master’s degree to satisfy the service obligation by serving as employees at eligible child care agencies. $1 million is allocated to implement this legislation.

  • $1.5 million for the Office of Child Care & Early Education.

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Continued funds for CCR&R projects:

  • $1 million for a business navigator program in each of the ten regional economic development councils to help businesses identify different child care supports for their employees.

  • $4.8 million for an employer-child care pilot program to serve families with an income between 85% and 100% of the state median income.

  • $2.5 million for child care support centers to administer substitute pools for eligible child care providers.

  • $500,000 for the Early Care & Learning Council to provide technical assistance and platforms to support administration of substitute pools by child care support centers.

  • $5 million for Staffed family child care networks, including recruitment and expansion of providers located in child care deserts.

  • The funding appropriation of “up to” for Child Care Resource and Referrals increased by $5 million dollars. There was no additional funding allocated at this time, but this is still good news. This means that if funding should become available, CCR&Rs could receive more funding. (The funding language was held at the same level as last year for Infant & Toddler/Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.)

  • An additional victory was $1.5 million secured by the Child Care Council of Westchester for their child care scholarship program. Congratulations on your tenacious advocacy efforts, Westchester colleagues!

Thank you to everyone who advocated on behalf of the children and families in your communities.