Mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani wants to phase out New York City’s Gifted and Talented program — the democratic socialist’s latest move to revert to ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio’s era.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor, said Thursday he would eliminate the accelerated learning program at the kindergarten level, something that’s 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, he said.
Critics have attacked the coveted learning model as racist due to the higher number of white and Asian students that gain entry through the exam.
But backers argue getting rid of the classes would eliminate opportunities for thousands of bright students from low-and-middle income families.
Mamdani’s proposal would be the first step in undoing the 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, and reverted by Mayor Eric Adams when he took office.
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