Infant and Toddler

Who is Eligible for Extended Day and Year Infant and Toddler Programs?

Extended Day and Year (EDY) Birth to Five programs offer high-quality early care and education for children six weeks through five years old. These programs run year-round for 8 or 10 hours per day and offer a safe, nurturing learning environment for children to learn, play, and build the skills that prepare them to be lifelong learners.

To provide access to these free or low-cost services, NYC Public Schools utilize funding from the Federal Child Care Block Grant (Child Care), which requires that families meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Residency:
  • Your family must live in New York City, unless the child has been placed in foster care outside of NYC.
  • The child who will receive care at the EDY program must be a US citizen or have legal immigration status.
  • Because of the requirements of this Federal funding, you must provide proof of your child’s citizenship or legal immigration status to be eligible.
  • Documentation is only needed for the child in need of Child Care. Parents/guardians will not be asked for the citizenship status or the status of anyone else in the household, including your status.
• Income Guidelines and Reason for Care:
  • Your family’s income must fall below a certain amount and you must have one of the following approved reason for care:
  • Work an average of 10 or more hours per week
  • In an educational or vocational training program
  • Starting to look for work or have been looking for work for up to 6 months, this includes looking for work while receiving unemployment
  • Receiving services in response to domestic violence
  • Live in temporary housing

For two-parent households, each parent must have a reason for care.

Your family may qualify for child care assistance if your family's income falls below 85% of the State Median Income and you have an approved reason for seeking child care ("reason for care") which include:

• You work 10+ hours per week
• You are in an educational or vocational training program
• You have been looking for work
• You live in temporary housing (priority access)
• You are attending services for domestic violence
• You are receiving treatment for substance abuse

Note: Families who work 10+ hours per week must make at least minimum wage ($16/hour) to qualify for child care assistance.

Special Referrals

There are a few instances where a City agency, other than NYC Public Schools, determines a family's eligibility for Child Care assistance:

• Families applying for or receiving cash assistance must apply for Child Care through their Human Resources Administration (HRA) Job Center.
• Families with an active child welfare case, Preventive and/or Protective, must contact their case worker to make a Child Care subsidy referral.
• Employed foster parents must contact their case worker to make a Child Care subsidy referral.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for Extended Day and Year services, you can seek help with your application by contacting us by email at ccapplication@schools.nyc.gov, by visiting MyCity or by calling 311. Families must submit an Application for Child Care Assistance. All eligibility forms are available at NYC Children's Forms for Families.

There is a free Pre-K seat for all four-year-olds in New York City, and NYC Public Schools continues to strengthen and expand access to 3-K across the city. Families do not need to provide proof of citizenship or immigration status to apply for or attend 2-K, 3-K, Pre-K, or Birth-to-Two (B-2) programs. For more information, visit 2-K, 3-K, Pre-K, or NYC Bright Starts, or call 311.

Enrollment and application processes vary by program.

• For 2-K, families apply through the centralized admissions process during the application period. Families can learn more at 2-K.
• For Birth-to-Two (B-2) programs, visit NYC Bright Starts to learn more about participating locations and enrollment.
• For Extended Day and Year (EDY) Infant and Toddler programs, enrollment is year-round if your family is eligible and a seat is available. To apply, email CCapplication@schools.nyc.gov, submit an application through MyCity, or call 311 for assistance.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically, mail your application materials to: