According to a New York Post report, Democratic socialist and New York City mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani says he will eliminate the city’s Gifted and Talented program for kindergarteners — a move critics warn would drag the city back to Bill de Blasio’s controversial education policies.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor, told The New York Times he would end the program at the kindergarten level, with gifted classes already underway allowed to finish the school year, but no new ones offered next fall.
The proposal marks the first step toward phasing out the Gifted and Talented track across elementary schools — the same move pushed by de Blasio in 2021 before he left office.
“I will return to the previous policy,” Mamdani told the outlet. “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 de Blasio’s phase-out plan in 2022, keeping the program alive.
Mamdani’s vow to scrap it sets up a fierce battle with parents who have long been sharply divided over whether the classes provide opportunity or deepen inequality.
More over at The New York Post:
Zohran Mamdani plans to phase out Gifted and Talented program in NYC elementary schools https://t.co/UtuTxmjo2G pic.twitter.com/lXXBbbs2PO
— New York Post (@nypost) October 2, 2025
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