New York City's socialist mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, has unveiled plans to dismantle the gifted and talented program for younger students in public schools.
This program, which The New York Times has described as "a symbol of segregation," is set to undergo significant changes if Mamdani emerges victorious in the mayoral race.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, Mamdani's proposal would see the gifted program discontinued for kindergartners from next fall, with a gradual phase-out in first and second grades in the following years. The program would, however, remain accessible to students currently enrolled, with third grade serving as an entry point.
The gifted program has faced widespread criticism for allegedly exacerbating segregation by admitting a limited number of Black and Latino students. As reported by The New York Times, "Mr. Mamdanis plan would reshape education for some of the youngest children in the nations largest school system and could reignite a fraught citywide debate over how and whether New York should address inequality in the enrollment of its selective academic programs."
Mamdani's radical approach to education reform is not an isolated incident. The socialist candidate has previously pledged to establish universal childcare, create city-run grocery stores, and shift the tax burden towards "whiter neighborhoods."
The proposed changes to the gifted program echo the intentions of former mayor Bill de Blasio, who also sought to phase out the classes. However, current Mayor Eric Adams diverged from this path, choosing instead to expand the program in 2022.
Since this expansion, there has been a noted increase in math and English proficiency scores for students in grades three through eight, although over 40 percent still failed this year.
The gifted program is currently available to less than 5 percent of kindergartners, with additional spots opening up in third grade. This limited access has drawn criticism from former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent in the mayoral race after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary.
Cuomo has voiced his intention to expand the gifted and talented program, stating, "Limiting opportunity to less than 5 percent of students is unfair. The real inequity is access too many Black and Latino students arent identified or supported early enough."
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate for New York City mayor, shares Cuomo's sentiments, expressing concern over poor test scores and advocating for the expansion of the gifted program.
Despite the criticism, Mamdani's campaign remains steadfast in its commitment to education reform. Dora Pekec, a spokeswoman for the campaign, defended the socialist's agenda, stating that it "will ensure that every New York City public school student receives a high-quality early education that enables them to be challenged and fulfilled."
She added, "Zohran knows that five-year-olds should not be subjected to a singular assessment that unfairly separates them right at the beginning of their public school education."
Interestingly, Mamdani plans to retain the controversial tests required for admission into New York Citys eight elite public high schools. This decision comes despite his previous vow to abolish these exams during his run for the New York State Assembly in 2022, as part of his promise to "address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination."
Mamdani, a beneficiary of top-tier education himself, attended the Bank Street School for Children, a progressive private school with tuition fees of approximately $70,000 per year. He later enrolled in the Bronx High School of Science, one of the country's most prestigious and rigorous high schools.
Reflecting on his own educational journey, Mamdani said, "As a Bronx Science alum, Ive seen both the promise and problems of specialized high schools students."
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