Institute Intelligence, September 2026: What would universal child care do for New York State? Plus: Prosecutorial data in a new public dashboard.
By Carla Sinclair, Communications Project Director, Kevin Dugan, Senior Communications Associate, and Molly Dektar, Senior Communications Associate
This season marks back to school for all ages, from children just starting their education journey to adults expanding their qualifications. Students and their families invest in education for the opportunities, mobility, and financial stability it can bring. But investment from local, state, and federal governments is important, too: when publicly funded education is quality and responsive, the return on investment can be substantial for everybody.
In New York City, a 2-K pilot funded by the City and State kicked off this September, with plans to grow in the coming years. As the conversation around universal child care picks up, ISLG researchers analyzed what it would mean for New York State’s children, families, and economies if such a program was available for all children six weeks and up. Read more about what we found below.
Child care isn’t the only lever. Governments can shape education by equipping schools and teachers with the tools to holistically support their students, including through restorative justice practices. There’s also making sure that affordable public universities—like CUNY—are operating efficiently and effectively in the face of changing political and demographical landscapes. There is also rethinking how people often left out of the education conversation, such as those incarcerated in prisons, can access, gain credit for, and use instruction.
There is much work ahead. Keep reading for a dive into our universal child care analysis and other work from the past month.
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Examining the economic benefits of universal child care in New York
This September, for the first time, two thousand New York City two-year-olds started their first day of school in the nation’s largest free 2-K program. A key part of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s agenda, and enacted with support from Governor Kathy Hochul and the State legislature, this new program is aimed at addressing 2026’s top political watchword: affordability.
But 2-K pilot programs are only the start of the conversation. What would it mean for families, communities, and economies to fully institute universal child care in New York State? This month, we released Universal Child Care Pays Off: Government Investment in Child Care Would Bring Billions to New York’s Families and Economy, a return-on-investment analysis examining the potential economic and social benefits that universal child care would bring to New York City and State.
Our team found that, if implemented, universal child care in New York projects to bring:
as much as $10.9 billion in annual net economic benefit
a 7-10 percent annual rate of return on childhood development
an increase of 28,000 workers to New York’s labor force
The report also details the increase in tax revenues, social mobility for parents, and gains for employers if universal child care is implemented. With the costs of child care to NYC parents now being double the cost of tuition to a 4-year CUNY, it is crucial for policymakers and the public to have the facts.
RSVP: On October 22, we're cohosting a webinar with the Rockefeller Institute of Government at SUNY to dive deeper into our respective research on universal child care. Sign up here to receive updates.
Helping prosecutors’ offices make data work for them—and the public
Toledo, Ohio is one of three Great Lakes sites working with us and Prosecutorial Performance Indicators (PPIs) to improve transparency and efficiency through stronger data collection and analysis. As part of our Prosecutorial Data Collaborative, the City of Toledo’s Prosecutor’s Office recently released a data dashboard featuring key details of their work, including case filings, how long cases take to be resolved, and an overview of their work on domestic violence-related cases.
“This data dashboard makes information about the work we do, the cases we handle, and the public we serve more transparent and understandable for all.”
- Rebecca Facey, Chief Prosecutor, City of Toledo
The dashboard details case data, broken down by demographics and offense type and includes the length of cases from filing to disposition, dating back to 2018.
New webinars from the NYC Justice Training Institute
The NYC Justice Training Institute (JTI) is a resource hub for organizations that serve people with mental and behavioral health needs. Launched in spring 2026 in partnership between the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) and the CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance (ISLG), the JTI is a one-stop shop for trainings, as well as opportunities for organizations to access on-demand, tailored training and technical assistance (TTA).
Upcoming webinars open to service providers, practitioners, and the public include:
Introduction to Supportive Housing
Wednesday, October 21 from 1 pm-2:30 pm ET
This webinar, presented in partnership with the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), will introduce NYC’s Supportive Housing system, including models, eligibility criteria, provider roles, and services.
NYC Supportive Housing Applications: Best Practices
Wednesday, October 28 from 1 pm-2:30 pm ET
Participants will learn how to conduct housing-focused assessments, prepare applications, and support clients through the referral, interview, and placement process.
Supporting Crisis Stabilization for Youth and Young Adults During Reentry
Tuesday, October 6 from 1-2:30 pm ET
This webinar, presented by the CSG Justice Center, will highlight the importance of effective case planning for youth and young adults.
Navigating NYC’s Homeless System
Wednesday, October 7 from 1 pm-2:30 pm ET
Participants will learn how to help their clients navigate the NYC homeless response system, connect with the appropriate resources, and overcome barriers to accessing temporary housing.
Overview of Behavioral Health Treatment in NYC
Wednesday, October 14 from 1 pm-2:30 pm ET
Participants will learn how to identify treatment options for behavioral health needs, make effective referrals, and support clients in accessing and remaining connected with care.
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