Bruce Blakeman, a Republican running for governor, criticized Mayor Zoran Mamdani for wanting to phase out some gifted and talented programs in New York City, insisting that student success should be assessed without regard to race.
At a press event in southern Brooklyn, the Nassau County executive stated that he would broaden these initiatives, which Governor Kathy Hochul attempted to associate with Democratic Socialist educational policies.
The discussions surrounding the city’s gifted programs have become contentious during the mayoral campaign, with some opponents labeling the advanced learning model as discriminatory, citing that many white and Asian students typically dominate admission exam results.
On the other hand, supporters contend that removing these classes could diminish opportunities for gifted students hailing from low- and middle-income backgrounds.
When asked about strategies to increase enrollment of Black and Hispanic students in advanced classes, Blakeman emphasized, “All admissions policies should be based on one thing: merit and excellence.”
“We should be color-blind. We should be race-blind,” he affirmed. “You should be blind to religion. You should be blind to family status.”
He also committed to enhancing commercial high schools, acknowledging, “Oh, certainly, if there was a need, and I understand there is a need; I understand that the lines to get into these schools are very long.”
Mamdani had previously expressed intentions to eliminate the high-achieving kindergarten program during his campaign, yet the application portal for next year’s classes remains active.
Before assuming office, Mamdani indicated plans to implement a policy reminiscent of Bill de Blasio’s tenure, which aimed to phase out such programs in early grades.
Kamal Samuels, who now leads Mamdani’s education department, has a previous record of targeting gifted programs.
In a separate press briefing, Hochul stated, “This is a city issue,” while refraining from revealing her stance on the gifted and talented classes.
State Senator Stephen Chan (R-Brooklyn) has introduced legislation to broaden the gifted program and remains steadfast against any proposals to reduce it. He expressed confidence that students in specialized schools and their parents wish for the program to persist, noting, “But it’s going to be a long battle.”
