Key Performance Indicators and Initiative Overview

Unplug and Play Initiative: Statewide Campaign Overview

The “Unplug and Play” initiative, launched in 2023 by New York State, aims to counteract the increasing screen time among children and teenagers by encouraging activities that foster physical health, social connectedness, and outdoor engagement.

• $360 million allocated toward building, renovating playgrounds, community centers, and after-school programs statewide.
• Programs such as “NY BRICKS” focus on creating multipurpose community spaces for youth learning and support.
• “NY PLAYS” expands playground access prioritizing urban and rural low-income neighborhoods.
• “NY SWIMS” initiative invested $50 million to increase swimming accessibility targeting children.
• Over 1.4 million youth participated in outdoor, arts, and social programs sponsored by state and partners in 2024-25.
• Legal measures introduced to protect children from addictive and harmful social media feeds.

Early evaluations suggest measurable improvements in youth mental health, social skills, and reduced sedentary behavior.

Youth Behavioral Data and Screen Time Trends

Sources: NY State Department of Health and Education, 2023 and 2025 Youth Behavioral Surveys.

Community Programs and Regional Grant Distribution

• 85 grants awarded for playgrounds and community center renovations benefiting low-income and rural youth.
• 67 youth sports programs funded, ranging from soccer leagues to swimming and martial arts.
• 17 new children’s museums and outdoor learning centers launched statewide.
• "Get Offline, Get Outside" initiative events saw 43% year-over-year growth in participation.
• Digital equity programs expanded broadband internet access in 14 underserved counties.
• Device subsidies enabled over 32,000 low-income youth to gain reliable internet tools.

Digital Work Permit Modernization for Teens

New York State’s modernization effort digitized the entire work permit issuance process for minors, accelerating approvals, reducing paperwork, and improving transparency for employers, schools, students, and families.

• 92% of work permits issued digitally in 2025, a substantial increase from 64% in 2023.
• Average work permit processing time dropped from 10 days to 3 days.
• Online portal provides automated renewal reminders and status tracking accessible by youth and guardians.
• Database integration enhances compliance monitoring and reduces fraudulent applications.
• Approximately 14,300 permits processed monthly, serving over 66,000 teenagers annually.

Educational Equity and Literacy Initiatives

In line with Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State proposals, New York continues to push for stronger investments and reforms to address educational disparities and improve literacy, from early childhood through postsecondary education.

• Empire State Child Tax Credit Expansion: Tripling child tax credits to reduce poverty, especially benefiting families with children under 16.
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Expansion: Extending free books to hundreds of thousands of children, promoting early literacy.
• Back to Basics Reading Plan: Statewide adoption of science-based reading instruction, with strong professional development and curricular alignment.
• College in High School Programs: Targeted funding increased access for low-income and underrepresented student groups to earn college credits in high school.
• State Longitudinal Data System: Enhancing data governance to ensure student privacy while enabling better policy targeting.
• TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) Expansion: Streamlined processes and increased funding to improve college affordability.

These initiatives emphasize equity with special support for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, foster youth, and those in temporary housing.