New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has ignited a heated debate across the city’s education landscape after announcing his intention to cancel the Gifted and Talented (G&T) program in early grades.
During a campaign event in Queens, Mamdani argued that the current system of early testing for young children—often as early as age four—creates inequities and reinforces segregation within public schools. “When we label children before they’ve even learned to read, we are not identifying potential; we are institutionalizing inequality,” he said.
The G&T program, which has long offered specialized classes for students who perform exceptionally on standardized tests, serves about 16,000 students citywide. Critics say the program disproportionately benefits families with access to private tutoring and resources, while excluding students from low-income and minority communities.
Mamdani’s proposal calls for replacing the existing program with a more inclusive model that provides advanced learning opportunities within all public school classrooms, rather than separating children into selective tracks.
However, the plan has faced strong backlash from parents and teachers. Many argue that the G&T program provides essential academic challenges for advanced learners and that its removal would lower educational standards. Parent advocacy groups have already begun circulating petitions demanding that the city “reform, not remove” the program.
Education experts say Mamdani’s announcement highlights a broader philosophical divide over how New York City should address equity in education. Some see his plan as a bold step toward fairness, while others view it as a political gamble that could alienate middle-class families who rely on the program.
The issue is expected to become one of the defining debates of the upcoming mayoral race, with Mamdani’s campaign emphasizing equity and inclusion, while opponents warn of unintended consequences for student achievement and parental choice.
