The First Day of School, a Test for Mamdani's 2-K Program

New York City’s first day of school Thursday arrives amid unresolved funding delays for the city’s 2-K program, even as about 780,000 public school students head back to classrooms. The most sensitive launch is for roughly 2,000 children entering the city’s first free child care program for 2-year-olds, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s signature initiative. Providers say late payments have forced some to take out personal loans, ask staff to work without pay, or even stay closed. One Brooklyn director said expenses topped $130,000 per month. Mamdani promised expedited disbursements and bridge loans, but some supplies still arrived too late.