All About 3-K for All and Pre-K for All

Compensation Announcement

The Mayor and City Council Speaker recently announced that the City has achieved a pathway to pay parity between certified early childhood education teachers at New York City Early Education Centers (NYCEECs) and NYC Public Schools first-year teachers by October 2021. The increases in compensation will take place over a three-year period, beginning in October 2019. Teacher candidates should speak directly with NYCEEC program leaders to learn more about how this compensation announcement could impact your potential starting salary, even if you are not currently certified.

History and Expansion

New York City is leading the nation in making early childhood education accessible for all.

During the 2018-2019 school year, New York City successfully enrolled nearly 68,000 children in free, full-day, high-quality, pre-K. Building on the success of Pre-K for All, NYC Public Schools expanded 3-K for All, offering 5,000 three-year-olds free, full-day, high-quality, early childhood education in School Districts 4 (East Harlem), 5 (Harlem), 7 (South Bronx), 16 (Bedford-Stuyvesant), 23 (Brownsville, East New York, Ocean Hill), and 27 (Broad Channel, Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Rockaways).

Pre-K for All

In January 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio transformed Early Childhood Education in New York City with his commitment to implement universal pre-kindergarten, which means providing access to free, full-day, high-quality pre-kindergarten to every four-year-old, regardless of family income. At that time, approximately 20,000 students were enrolled in full-day pre-K in the city. Today the city offers free, full-day pre-K to nearly 68,000 four-year-olds.

Within four years, the historic initiative more than tripled the number of four-year-olds enrolled in pre-K. Today, every four-year-old in New York City is guaranteed a seat in a free, full-day, high-quality, Pre-K for All program.

3-K for All

In 2017, NYC Public Schools furthered its commitment to high-quality early childcare and education with the launch of 3-K for All. It is the most ambitious effort in U.S. history to give every three-year-old in New York City the same high-quality education for free. The path to 3-K for All started in School Districts 7 (South Bronx) and 23 (Brownsville, East New York, Ocean Hill).

Today, the City expanded to offer 3-K to as many to as many families as possible in the remaining sixteen school districts.

• In school districts 4,5,6,7,8,9,16,19,23,27,31, and 32, there is a 3-K seat for every three-year-old.
• In school districts, 1,2,3,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,20,21,22,24,25,26,28,29, and 30, NYC Public Schools will offer 3-K seats to as many three-year-olds as possible

Why Teach Early Childhood Students

The research is clear: high-quality early childhood education helps children build the strong foundation of skills, knowledge, and approaches to learning necessary to succeed in school and life. Through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All, we have made a commitment to give every child in NYC—in every community, neighborhood and district—the same opportunity to become a strong student and enthusiastic learner.

Research shows that two years of early childhood education:

• Helps develop critical vocabulary, oral language, and problem-solving skills
• Establishes strong partnerships with families
• Raises academic success across all income and racial groups

Our city’s committed, passionate early childhood teachers make these historic achievements possible.

We are seeking enthusiastic and effective teachers to staff 3-K for All and Pre-K for All classrooms. 

Apply Now