Democratic socialist and mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani wants to undo the Gifted and Talented program for young New York City school kids — the latest move to revert back to ex-mayor Bill de Blasio’s era.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor, told The New York Times that he would eliminate the program at the kindergarten level in a move that is likely to anger parents, who have been passionately divided on the issue.
The gifted classes would remain active through the school year, but would no longer be available next fall, according to the report.
The proposal by the mayoral hopeful would be the first step in phasing out the gifted program across all elementary schools — a controversial change inside the Department of Education made by de Blasio on his way out the door in 2021.
“I will return to the previous policy,” Mamdani told the outlet in a statement. “Ultimately, my administration would aim to make sure that every child receives a high-quality early education that nurtures their curiosity and learning.”
Mayor Eric Adams reversed course on that plan once taking office in 2022.
Read the full article here