Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, is facing criticism over his proposed changes to the city’s Gifted and Talented (G&T) program. He initially indicated he would eliminate the program entirely for early grades but later clarified that it would only affect kindergarten students, while third graders would still be able to enroll. This reversal has raised questions about the consistency of his education policy.
The selective program serves roughly 2,500 of the city’s youngest learners and has long been a source of debate. Mamdani argues that separating children at age five is unfair and has proposed expanding universal free child care for children from six weeks to five years as a way to support early learning. He emphasized that kindergarteners “should not have a Gifted and Talented program that is separating them,” highlighting his concern over early academic tracking.
Parent advocacy group PLACE NYC sharply criticized Mamdani’s plan. Co-President Yiatin Chu described it as “a reckless step backward” and said it would “dismantle a vital pathway for accelerated learning in our public schools.” Chu also urged voters to reject candidates seeking to end the program, noting, “Eliminating them does not promote equity; it erodes merit-based education.”
Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, called the proposal “a giant step back” for public education, emphasizing that G&T programs allow high-performing students to excel. Mayor Eric Adams emphasized on social media that the Gifted & Talented program has given Black and Brown students “a real shot to excel,” calling for the program to be expanded to reach more children.
Mamdani attended the Bronx High School of Science, a specialized public high school, after completing his early education at a private school. Critics have highlighted this background, arguing that it is inconsistent for him to propose cuts to programs that shaped his own academic journey.
