Educators are concerned about where the future of New York City schools\u2019 long-debated gifted and talented (G&T) program stands in the mayoral election. But the top three candidates don\u2019t agree on the issue. <\/p>\n
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is for phasing G&T out, while independent candidate former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa are for expansion.<\/p>\n
First introduced to the city\u2019s public school system in the 1970s<\/a>, the G&T application and admissions process rigorously tests \u201cexceptional\u201d students around the age of four. After the 1990s, the city\u2019s G&T programs went from being controlled by individual school districts to a more centralized process with standardized tests under mayoral control. <\/p>\n Where a student gets accepted is also a factor for families to consider. Not all districts have G&T classrooms, and there are no citywide G&T schools in the Bronx, Staten Island, or parts of Queens and Brooklyn. Combined with the time-consuming admissions process, it\u2019s yet another example of inequities and segregation in the system<\/a> that tend to benefit white, Asian and affluent students.<\/p>\n Still, when the city considered dismantling the entire program in 2019<\/a> under former Mayor Bill de Blasio in the hopes of diversifying schools, many pushed back. Instead of elimination, some educators advocated for expansion of the program without a focus on standardized tests to give more Black, Hispanic, and low-income children a chance to get in. <\/p>\n Black and Hispanic children made up about 30% of students in G&T for the 2023-2024 school year, reported <\/a>Chalkbeat. Up from 12% in 2020, which was before the standardized exam was removed. <\/p>\n Current Mayor Eric Adams broke with de Blasio\u2019s plans and became a huge proponent of expanding<\/a> the G&T program when he got in office. In 2022, he and former Schools Chancellor David Banks added 100 kindergarten seats and 1,000 third-grade seats to all school districts. Students would be evaluated by their teachers in pre-K and then nominated for the program. Adams concurred that expansion ensured every child had a \u201cfair chance\u201d to get into an accelerated program. <\/p>\n With Adams dropping out of the race, G&T may be back on the chopping block with whoever succeeds him.<\/p>\n \u201cI will return to the previous policy,\u201d said Mamdani in an interview with the New York Times<\/a>, indicating that he\u2019d resume de Blasio\u2019s plans for eliminating the G&T program. \u201cUltimately, my administration would aim to make sure that every child receives a high-quality early education that nurtures their curiosity and learning.\u201d<\/p>\n Mamdani\u2019s education platform<\/a> hinges mostly on free childcare for all children under the age of five, a free baby basket resource for new parents and guardians, and fully funded after-school programs. But he has gone on record this month<\/a> saying he would phase out the G&T program while keeping the controversial Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) in place. Historically, the SHSAT has been criticized for excluding certain students of color<\/a> from the city\u2019s elite high schools, only admitting a handful of Black and Hispanic students annually.<\/p>\n With just weeks before Election Day on Nov. 4, Mamdani is still maintaining a hefty lead (46%) when it comes to polling, according to Quinnipiac University<\/a>. He favors support from Democrats, Asian American voters, voters 18 to 34 years old, voters 35 to 49 years old, and voters who identify as not being part of any religious group. <\/p>\n Cuomo as a second runner up (33%) is gaining some steam, due largely to Adams dropping out of the race. His strongest supporters are among Jewish voters, said the polling. <\/p>\n The former governor is on the opposite side of the spectrum when it comes to education issues. He has been adamant about expanding G&T in every borough and building eight new specialized high schools to create more opportunities for students. Cuomo also slammed Mamdani\u2019s \u201crepeated flip-flopping on the SHSAT.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cZohran Mamdani\u2019s latest proposal to eliminate New York City\u2019s gifted & talented program is not just another political stunt \u2013 it\u2019s destructive and emblematic of a deeper problem in today\u2019s Democratic Party \u2013 the surface level appearance of a solution is sufficient,\u201d said Cuomo in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Department of Education\u2019s own survey shows that 40% of parents who left the public school system did so because they wanted more rigorous instruction,\u201d continued Cuomo. \u201cIf there are tens of thousands of applications for limited G&T spots, parents are telling you something: They want more of it, not less. The answer isn\u2019t to say good riddance to those families. If there are issues with how young children are selected, then fix that and expand opportunities \u2014 give more at the start of education and more on-ramps later. Don\u2019t eliminate the program.\u201d<\/p>\n Bringing up the rear in the polls is Sliwa with 15% of voter support. He has \u201cbeen a proponent of the G&T programs\u201d throughout his campaign, said his spokesperson. <\/p>\n