NEW YORK — Mayor Zohran Mamdani is acting on a campaign pledge to expand New York City’s whole-of-government response to the urgent crisis of student homelessness — though at fewer schools than he promised.

The initiative, called Every Child and Family is Known, will grow from 125 to nearly 190 schools during the 2026-27 school year, according to a budget memo to superintendents and principals on Friday.

Mamdani campaigned on expanding the program to 230 schools in his first year as mayor — so the current plan is dozens of schools short of his original pledge. Education officials said they still plan to meet that target by the following school year.

Every Child and Family is Known is a joint effort between the New York City Public Schools, the Department of Homeless Services and other child-facing agencies to support students living in shelters. Schools that enroll at least 10 students in temporary housing apply for funding to enlist teachers and school staff to foster trusting relationships with the children and their families.

“This initiative … connects every NYCPS student living in a DHS shelter and their family to a school-based ‘Caring Adult’ to coordinate supports that promote better attendance, well-being, and academic success,” Seritta Scott, the chief financial officer of the public schools, wrote in the Aug. 7 memo.

So far, the Mamdani administration has set aside $1.95 million for the initiative, with schools receiving the first half of their allocations this month. A second installment is expected after January, based on shifts in homeless shelter registration.

Each year, nearly 1 in every 7 public schoolchildren in the city will experience some form of homelessness. For example, a student may spend time living in a homeless shelter or temporarily “doubled up” in a friend’s or extended family’s apartment.

Mamdani did not focus on K-12 education on the campaign trail. Apart from a since-abandoned plan to end mayoral control of the city’s schools, Every Child and Family is Known was one of a few specific K-12 policy proposals on his official campaign website — making the program closely watched as the mayor focuses most of his education-related energy on a dramatic expansion of the city’s childcare offerings.

Launched in 2023 as a pilot program in the Bronx, Every Child and Family is Known expanded citywide for the first time last school year. The funds support the increased workload of the “caring adults” and also “program points” — a staffer at each school who recruits teachers and matches them with students. The funding can also go toward family workshops and events, shelter visits and “student rewards,” such as a party for improved attendance.

Participating schools were selected based, in part, on the number of homeless students frequently missing classes last school year. About 63% of students living in shelters are considered “chronically absent,” defined as missing 18 or more school days.

It was not clear how many schools would be included in the initiative this school year. The budget memo said 189, while a spokeswoman said 188 and did not immediately explain the discrepancy.

“Every Child and Family is Known reflects our commitment to meeting students and families where they are and making sure students in temporary housing have the stability, relationships and support they need to thrive,” Chyann Tull, a spokeswoman for the public schools, said in a statement. “We are proud to be expanding this important work to 188 schools this school year, which will grow to 230 next year.”

City Hall did not respond to requests for comment.

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