Zohran Mamdani’s Plan to Eliminate Gifted & Talented in NYC

New York City’s next election is shaping up to be a referendum on education. Mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and self-described democratic socialist, announced Thursday that he plans to phase out the city’s Gifted and Talented (G&T) program for kindergarteners—reviving one of the most controversial education debates of the past decade.

Mamdani’s proposal echoes former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s attempt in 2021 to dismantle the coveted program, which was swiftly reversed by current Mayor Eric Adams. Under Mamdani’s plan, G&T classes for children in grades K–2 would be eliminated starting next fall, with advanced instruction only beginning at grade 3.

Supporters vs. Critics

Mamdani’s campaign argues the current system is unfair, pointing to the single admissions exam that disproportionately benefits white and Asian students. His spokesperson, Dora Pekec, defended the plan, saying: “Five-year-olds should not be subjected to a singular assessment that unfairly separates them right at the beginning of their education.”

Critics, however, warn the move will strip opportunities from thousands of bright students in low- and middle-income families who rely on G&T programs as a ladder out of struggling public schools.

Danyela Souza, a Manhattan Community Education Council member and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, slammed the plan: “Mamdani is eliminating opportunities for families who are not as fortunate as his. It’s going to accelerate families leaving the city public school system.”

Yiatin Chu, co-president of Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education, called it a step backward: “We should be expanding these programs, not eliminating them.”

Political Firestorm

The move has united Mamdani’s opponents. Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo argued that canceling the program would “create a false equality by eliminating any opportunity to excel,” while Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa pledged to not only preserve G&T but expand it.

Both pointed to Mamdani’s own academic path as evidence of hypocrisy: he attended Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s elite test-based schools, and his parents sent him to Bank Street, a private school charging up to $66,000 in annual tuition.

Impact on Families

Enrollment in NYC public schools has already dropped by 15% since COVID-19. Opponents warn Mamdani’s plan would only worsen the trend as parents seek out private schools, charters, or leave the city altogether. “Parents have one chance to educate their child,” Chu emphasized. “Why do we think every kid is the same?”

The Bigger Picture

Mamdani frames the elimination as a step toward “high-quality early education for all,” but critics see it as ideology trumping excellence. The fight over Gifted and Talented is not just about classrooms—it’s about whether New York City will invest in pathways for advanced learners or level the system downward in the name of equity.

With Mamdani leading in the polls, the future of NYC’s education system—and its ability to retain ambitious families—may hang in the balance.

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