Mamdani plans to eliminate the Gifted and Talented program for New York City kindergarten students.

In a significant policy proposal, Zohran Mamdani, a leading candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, has announced plans to eliminate the Gifted & Talented program for kindergarten students in public schools if elected. This move aligns with a previous initiative by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who sought to phase out the program in 2021. However, current Mayor Eric Adams reversed de Blasio’s decision and instead expanded the program during his administration, modifying its admissions criteria.

Mamdani’s commitment to end the Gifted & Talented program specifically for kindergarten was reaffirmed in a recent questionnaire submitted to the New York Times. His campaign argues that assessments given to young children can be both unjust and overly simplistic, reinforcing early educational disparities. A spokesperson for Mamdani emphasized his vision for an inclusive education system, stating that all public school students in New York City should receive equal access to a high-quality early education tailored to their developmental needs.

For the current academic year, the existing Gifted & Talented classes for kindergarten will remain operational; however, the program is set to be discontinued in the following fall semester. Despite this change, Mamdani’s campaign has indicated that Gifted & Talented programs would still be available starting in third grade, providing a transition into specialized education at a later stage.

The Gifted & Talented program has faced considerable scrutiny in recent years, with critics arguing that it contributes to racial and socioeconomic segregation within schools. The student demographic of the program has been predominantly white and Asian, raising concerns about equitable access to gifted educational resources. In response to these criticisms, Mayor Adams modified the admissions process to rely more heavily on recommendations from preschool teachers and a lottery system, moving away from a method that heavily depended on standardized testing for four-year-olds.

The proposal to dismantle the kindergarten segment of the program has drawn sharp criticism from other candidates in the mayoral race. Andrew Cuomo, who is currently polling in second place, has labeled Mamdani’s approach as “destructive,” arguing that parents have expressed a demand for expanded Gifted & Talented opportunities through the high volume of applications. Cuomo contended that instead of eliminating the program, the focus should be on reforming the admission process to ensure greater inclusivity and access for more families.

As the race for mayor heats up, the future of educational programs in New York City remains a pivotal topic, with candidates articulating diverging visions for how best to serve the city’s diverse student population.