New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has drawn backlash after signaling plans to eliminate the city’s Gifted and Talented (G&T) program for kindergarten students if elected, a move critics argue would dismantle opportunities for advanced learners.
Initially, Mamdani indicated he would phase out the selective program entirely for early grades, but his campaign later clarified that entry for third graders would remain. The change in position has prompted questions about his broader education agenda and his consistency on the issue.
Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner, contends that the current system separates children too early based on assessments. He has pledged to replace it with universal free child care for children from six weeks to five years old, calling it an investment in equity and early learning. “It is incredibly important for us to deliver excellent quality public education for each and every New Yorker,” he explained, adding that kindergarteners “should not have a Gifted and Talented program that is separating them on the basis of that assessment.”
The plan quickly drew strong opposition from parent advocacy groups. PLACE NYC, Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education, denounced the proposal, warning that it would “dismantle a vital pathway for accelerated learning in our public schools.” Co-President Yiatin Chu criticized Mamdani’s approach as “a reckless step backward” and urged voters to reject any candidate seeking to end the program. “Eliminating them does not promote equity; it erodes merit-based education,” Chu emphasized.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, also pushed back, calling Mamdani’s plan “a giant step back” for public education. “That program is the one program that allows extraordinary students to actually excel,” Cuomo stated.
Mayor Eric Adams joined the criticism on social media, highlighting the program’s role in uplifting students of color. “The Gifted & Talented program gave thousands of Black and Brown kids a real shot to excel,” Adams wrote. “Expand it to more children, not fewer.”
Mamdani himself attended the Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s elite specialized public high schools, after completing his early education at a top private school. Critics say this makes his proposal to cut Gifted and Talented programs for young learners appear contradictory, raising questions about how his plans would affect advanced students across New York City.
