Ten months into his term, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism from education advocates who feel he isn’t living up to the educational promises he made during his campaign. David Bloomfield, a former general counsel for the NYC Board of Education, expressed disappointment, stating, “It’s not enough to just be the TikTok mayor for 900,000 public school students and their families.” He emphasized that what’s needed is actual progress rather than just rhetoric.
Mamdani was expected to instigate significant changes in the struggling public school system, particularly through a progressive education agenda, but critics argue little has changed in the K-12 landscape during his initial months in office.
Bloomfield pointed out the absence of a clear educational agenda from the mayor, citing the lack of action on issues like racial segregation, enrollment decline, and school mergers. He said, “We’re really hearing nothing out of the administration.” Leonie Haimson, founder of Class Size Matters, noted that both advocacy groups and parents had anticipated substantial shifts following Mamdani’s election, given his activist platform, but they have seen little distinct change from the previous administration.
Bloomfield, now a professor emeritus at Brooklyn College, criticized the administration for lacking a comprehensive plan to tackle issues like outdated class sizes, declining enrollment, and overcrowded classrooms in New York City’s schools.
Despite operating under mayoral control—granting Mamdani considerable authority—Bloomfield suggested that the administration has not directed the given budget effectively. He questioned whether the substantial funds allocated to the school system, which serves nearly a million students, are reaching those most in need. “Money will go a long way to solving the education problem in New York… but how is that money used?” he asked.
Haimson also pointed out Mamdani’s earlier enthusiasm for reducing class sizes, following a state law designed to limit them. However, now he seeks an extension on compliance, which would delay implementation until 2030. “I expected a concrete plan for how space would be created for smaller classes, and that hasn’t happened,” she remarked.
As both advocates noted, Mamdani’s education agenda appears limited compared to the broad topics he campaigned on, with many aspects resembling the approach of his predecessor, Mayor Eric Adams. Bloomfield summed up the sentiment by stating, “There’s disappointment. People want change… There’s a need for improvement, yet we’re hearing nothing from City Hall.”
In comparison, during his first six months, Adams issued significantly more press releases related to education than Mamdani has so far. Haimson did credit Mamdani for the launch of an early childhood initiative but expressed concern that older students, those above five years old, seem to be receiving less attention from his administration.
Haimson concluded that it’s essential for Mamdani and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels to focus more on K-12 education and articulate a clearer strategy for tackling ongoing challenges. She stressed the city’s pressing duty to ensure children receive quality education, noting the importance of mayoral control in achieving that.
As of now, there’s been no response from either Mamdani or Samuels regarding these concerns.
