Mamdani proposes axing NYC kindergarten gifted program
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic front‑runner in the New York City mayoral race, said he would stop the Gifted & Talented program for incoming kindergartners next fall—embracing a de Blasio‑era phase‑out—drawing sharp criticism from rivals including Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa and former Mayor Eric Adams. The policy became a flashpoint in the campaign, with opponents calling the move 'destructive' and the campaign citing recent poll figures showing Mamdani leading the field.
Politics
Education
Elections
🔍 Key Facts
- Mamdani would halt Gifted & Talented testing/placement for incoming kindergarteners beginning next fall (per his campaign remarks reported to the NYT and Fox News).
- Rivals' reactions: Andrew Cuomo called the plan 'destructive'; Curtis Sliwa and Eric Adams publicly criticized the proposal and defended the program's role for disadvantaged students.
- Poll numbers cited in the article show Mamdani at 45%, Cuomo 27%, Sliwa 11% and Adams 8% among NYC registered voters.