Mayor-elect’s Transition Team Draws Criticism for Lack of Charter School Representation
Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani’s transition team has faced backlash for not including charter school representatives, despite the fact that around 15% of students in New York City attend these schools.
The democratic socialist didn’t appoint anyone from the charter sector to the Youth and Education Committee, which is one of 17 teams that include 400 members each. Notably absent are advocates for merit-based education, such as those supporting gifted programs or specialized high schools.
“It’s concerning that Mamdani didn’t bring in advocates for charter school families, many of whom are black and brown students,” said Ray Domanico, a senior fellow at the pro-charter Manhattan Institute.
Domanico emphasized that charter school students in lower-income areas generally perform better on state standardized tests, highlighting that this trend is well-established.
Currently, over 150,000 students are enrolled in 285 charter schools, constituting more than 20% of public school students across the boroughs. Yet, the transition committee features no representatives from the New York City Charter School Center or charter educators, despite charter schools often boasting significantly higher standardized test pass rates compared to nearby traditional public schools.
Domanico noted that Mamdani might benefit from understanding the reasons behind the successes of charter schools, especially as he opposes their expansion.
The transition team includes prominent figures such as teachers union president Michael Mulgrew, alongside advocates like Nia Berg of Appleseed New York and Matt Gonzalez of New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools, the latter of whom previously worked with former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s School Diversity Advisory Group.
Christine Marinoni, an education funding advocate and wife of actress Cynthia Nixon, is also part of the advisory board. Both she and Mulgrew have been critical of charter schools.
On the panel is also former Deputy Prime Minister Joshua Wallach, known for overseeing de Blasio’s universal preschool initiative.
Notably excluded is the New York City Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education, a parent-led group advocating for competency-based and talent-focused programs for high-achieving students.
Mamdani has previously expressed a desire to phase out gifted and talented programs in the early grades.
Interestingly, he himself graduated from Bronx High School of Science, a specialized institution that admits students based solely on entrance exam performance.
PLACE-NYC leaders remarked that Mamdani’s advisory team resembles de Blasio’s past administration. Iatin Chu, co-director of PLACE-NYC, expressed disappointment over the return of de Blasio alumni and racial justice activists, suggesting that this could detract from prioritizing academic rigor and student achievement within New York City’s education system.
According to Chu, with limited avenues for advancing K-12 education initiatives, Mamdani’s push to phase out gifted programs and his staunch opposition to charter schools could have unsettling implications for students.
While Mamdani’s school board does have appointees in support of charter schools, including State University of New York President John King, their roles also encompass broader educational and philanthropic interests.
Mamdani is relying on the transition team to devise and execute a plan aimed at providing free childcare funded by government subsidies, with appointees like Rebecca Bailin and Tara Gardner involved in these efforts.
Thus far, Mamdani’s transition team has refrained from commenting on the criticisms it has faced.
