New York City Mayor Eric Adams, alongside Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard, has announced a major new investment aimed at providing universal after-school programming for public school students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The plan includes a $331 million funding commitment that will be phased in starting in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget and fully baselined by FY 2028. With this new investment, total annual spending on after-school programs will rise to $755 million.
The expansion, part of the Adams administration’s broader goal to make New York City “the best place to raise a family,” will add 20,000 new after-school seats over the next three school years. The total number of students served across all DYCD programs will increase to 184,000 by the 2027–2028 school year. This marks the first significant increase to after-school seats in over a decade.
“To make New York City the best place to raise a family, we need to make sure our young people and families have opportunities to thrive, and that is why we are launching a big, bold vision to achieve universal after-school for free for all students who want it,” said Mayor Adams. “We’re investing $331 million in additional funds as part of our total $755 million investment in ‘After-School for All.’ This massive infusion of funds will improve our current programs and bring new after-school programs to an additional 20,000 K-5 students, serving a total 184,000 K-8 students. That’s 184,000 students who will be able to participate in sports, robotics, the arts, field trips, and more — discovering their passions and building relationships with their classmates. We are also pursuing a community-driven effort that will stabilize our current after-school system, ensuring these providers are able to get a rate increase for the first time in 10 years so they can hire and train staff, while delivering quality programming to our youth. Our parents shouldn’t have to choose between picking up their child or working a job to put food on the table — and now they won’t have to. This is what it looks like to deliver on our mission of making New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.”
The announcement comes during the 20th anniversary of the city’s after-school system, and during the administration’s “Budget Week,” during which Mayor Adams is unveiling the “Best Budget Ever,” focused on affordability, safety, and quality-of-life issues.
“Mayor Adams’ commitment to early childhood development is truly unprecedented,” said First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. “Now, he builds on that work with another signature achievement: a commitment to fund universal after-school programs for all public-school families who want it for their children. Just like universal pre-K, this initiative bookends early childhood education in the most positive way. It’s all about investing in our children’s futures — and today’s announcement will serve children for generations to come.”
The $331 million investment will be phased in as follows:
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FY 2026: $21 million to add 5,000 new K–5 seats for fall 2026
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FY 2027: Additional seats bringing the total increase to 15,000
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FY 2028: Final 5,000 seats added, totaling 20,000 new seats over three years
Funding for these new seats will be baselined starting in FY 2028. In total, 184,000 students will be served through DYCD programs. A new Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to providers — the first in more than 10 years — as part of a strategy to improve program quality and stabilize the workforce with higher provider rates.
“Today’s announcement on after-school is nothing short of a game-changer for New York City’s kids and families. Mayor Adams’ commitment to investing $331 million in new funding to expand and improve the Department of Youth and Community Development’s after-school system will transform child care in New York City forever, opening the door for thousands of families to take advantage of this valuable service,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “After-school programs support kids, families, and the larger community — they are a common-sense investment of public resources. The commitment to building a universal system in the years ahead will expand the landscape of youth programs and child care for communities across the city.”
The current DYCD system serves approximately 164,000 K–8 students. The expansion will bring the number to 184,000 by school year 2027–2028. Only one in five elementary school students currently have access to after-school programs, compared to two in five middle school students. The new funding prioritizes expanding access for younger students in high-demand communities.
“Growing up in the Bronx, I was greatly influenced by after-school programs,” said DYCD Commissioner Howard. “Juanita Howard, a single mother raising seven young children, worked as a registered nurse at the VA Hospital, and sent me and my siblings to after-school programs. She was so committed to it that I made sure my children attended, as well. I know firsthand the value of creating enriching and meaningful opportunities. Mayor Adams, who is making unprecedented commitments to our elementary school students, shares this sentiment. These investments help make our city more affordable and the best place to raise a family. I want to express my gratitude to our outstanding providers for their patience and partnership in creating the next generation of after-school programming. Together, we are closer than ever to fulfilling Mayor Adams’ vision for universal after-school.”
The administration will also launch a commission for universal after-school, engaging providers and stakeholders to design a sustainable system that can support staff hiring and training while delivering quality programming. A $195 million investment starting in the FY 2027 Executive Budget will support system upgrades, bringing total new funding to $331 million by FY 2028.
The plan builds on broader efforts to improve affordability for families. According to city data, New York City lost $23 billion in 2022 due to working parents exiting the workforce for child care. Additionally, studies have shown that after-school and crime prevention programs can yield savings of $8 to $12 for every $1 invested.
This expansion complements the Adams administration’s recent investments in early childhood education, including:
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$167 million for 3-K and special education pre-K
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Enrollment of 150,000 children in the early childhood system
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Reduced out-of-pocket child care costs from $55 to $5 per week
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Guaranteed 3-K seat offers for all on-time applicants
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$92 million in one-time funding for citywide 3-K expansion
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$20 million to place waitlisted students
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$55 million for 700 new special needs seats
Additional education accomplishments include:
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Implementation of “NYC Reads” and dyslexia supports
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Expansion of Gifted and Talented Programs
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Increases in test scores: 12% in math and 3% in English language arts (2023)
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Construction of nine new schools for the 2024–2025 school year
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New contracts for teachers, principals, and staff
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Launch of “NYC Solves” math initiative
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Creation of the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning
Mayor Adams’ “Best Budget Ever” continues to prioritize long-term affordability and services for families while maintaining record-high reserves and fiscal stability.
News shared via NYC Newswire
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