Wealthy Zohran Mamdani supports the nationwide ‘woke math’ initiative.

Billionaire’s Push for “Awakening Mathematics” in Schools

A billionaire heir is making headlines after donating $250,000 to a super PAC that supports Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for NYC mayor. Alongside this, she’s financing a national initiative aimed at integrating “awakening mathematics” into public school curricula.

Liz Simons, daughter of the late hedge fund magnate Jim Simons, leads foundations that have allocated nearly a billion dollars. This funding shifts away from traditional, race-neutral math teaching towards a model that emphasizes social justice and incorporates various race-related and LGBTQ themes into educational frameworks.

While some states like California have embraced this approach, others, notably Florida, have rejected it. The new curriculum often requires teachers to intertwine lessons on mathematical concepts—like using graphs—with discussions on income inequality between different racial groups.

Mamdani’s education platform seeks to halt the expansion of charter schools and promote universal pre-K, among other things. He also plans to change how middle schools handle selective admissions.

Although awakened mathematics hasn’t been a focal point of the campaign, critics worry Simons’ backing might signal its acceptance. Yiatin Chu, a parent leader within the Asian community, expressed her concerns, saying the direction of public schools under Mamdani could be troubling, particularly with Simons’ influence.

She noted that this form of mathematics could lower standards without actually aiding Black students. Test scores reveal gaps between different racial groups, particularly between Asian and white students.

Jean Hearn, a parent in Queens, pointed out that the awakened curriculum seems to focus more on cultivating political activists than on teaching actual math skills. Some parents, reflecting on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s controversial diversity initiatives, are already feeling uneasy about what Mamdani might implement.

Simons inherited her wealth after her father died in May 2024, leaving behind a substantial net worth. Through the Hising Simmons Foundation, she has committed millions to initiatives advocating for awakened mathematics, including a $1.7 million contribution to a racial justice program in early math at the Erickson Institute in Chicago.

Unfortunately, the outcomes aren’t promising: recent statistics indicate that fewer than one in five public school students in Chicago can perform basic math. The foundation also provided significant financial support for various educational seminars and projects focused on integrating racial justice themes into math education.

Virginia, where educational recovery in mathematics has lagged, has faced criticism for some of these initiatives. It’s unclear how effective such programs are in practice, with numerous reports questioning their reliability.

Recently, Simons also contributed to a PAC that endorses Mamdani’s candidacy, despite the ongoing debate around billionaires’ influence in political spheres.