, Columnist
Universal Child Care Isn’t Always Good for Kids
Meeting the mayor.
Photographer: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North AmericaFree child care is starting to take root in the US. But is it good for kids?
Last year, New Mexico became the first state to offer free universal child care. This year, New York began offering free child care for children ages 0-3 in certain cities, with a goal of reaching all children under 5 by 2028. Massachusetts has set its sights on universal, high-quality preschool access for every 4-year-old in the state’s major cities by the end of 2026.