By Kendra Hurley

One unintended consequence of free, public preschool programs is the toll they can take on a community’s supply of child care for babies and toddlers. In some places, when public preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds grow, affordable child care for younger children shrinks. This analysis of enrollment data for the subsidized child care system suggests that in New York City, about the same number of infants and toddlers are receiving subsidized child care in child care centers and family child care programs as before the expansion of Pre-K-for-All. But other data and research which is inclusive of non-subsidized child care raises concerns that affordable infant and toddler care for low-income parents in New York City may indeed be at risk.

KENDRA HURLEY, FORMERLY SENIOR EDITOR OF THE CENTER FOR NEW YORK CITY AFFAIRS' CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PROJECT, IS A FREELANCE RESEARCHER AND WRITER WHO PROVIDES RESEARCH, WRITING, AND EDITORIAL CONSULTATION TO THE CENTER FOR NEW YORK CITY AFFAIRS.

FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF INSIDER IMAGES/ANDREW KELLY (UNITED STATES)