We were right to fight to reopen NYC schools and unmask our toddlers #NeverForget

Ray Domanico and I published today a report on the current state of the NYC public schools and what the new mayor should do to address the existing issues. The decline of our public schools is a result of choices made by elected officials in City Hall and Albany. Manhattan Institute

Is there any country on earth still recommending Covid vaccines for healthy children 6 months to 4 years old?

Zohran Mamdani’s education policy isn’t about supporting low-performing kids, it’s about eliminating high-performing kids. Last time I posted about his opposition to high-achieving kids, people accused me of taking old quotes out of context. Is this clear enough?

I see people attacking this as "communist" but realize that 21st century China, and the USSR for that matter, have or had the equivalent of gifted and talented programs in their school systems, for identifying especially bright kids and cultivating them. Understand that US

After ending G&T programs and not being able to close the achievement gaps, Mandani will try to close private after school accelerated options like Russian School of Math that gives “an unfair advantage” to rich kids.

This is what New Yorkers really want?

Yet attended Gifted and Talented high school in NYC I’m aboard, mate. Pull the ladder up!

The irony of eliminating public gifted programs in the name of equity is that the kids it punishes the most are the low-income families who depend on public education. Ending free, public gifted programs ensures that only wealthy families get access to quality education.

This punk went to fancy, expensive private schools except for the four years he went to a Specialized HS (i.e. a very ‘gifted & talented’ school) in NYC—the very opportunities he wants to deny NYC public school kids with his luxury-belief leftist insistence on mediocrity.

There are legit pros and cons to starting gifted programs in kindergarten. More interesting/telling to me is why this is even the conversation by him or any candidate when nearly half of NYC students aren't on grade level in reading and math. Way bigger fish to fry.

“This is just a hornet’s nest to step into,” said Yiatin Chu,… “It’s hurting the people that he talks about helping: the working class and the middle class,” she said, adding that the school system could not treat students like “one size fits all.” nytimes.com/2025/10/03/nyr…

Many are making this joke about Mamdani’s goals vs his affordability message. The more important point: this move will make the public education system in NYC less affordable by driving down enrollment. In its own Exit Survey of parents disenrolling their children, NYC Public Schools

Who could have predicted that locking people in their homes, preventing kids from attending schools, playing sports, creating a massive mental health and substance use crisis could result in declining life expectancy? There needs to be accountability for the destructive covid

Every year it is the same story: - Less students - More money for NYC Public Schools - Higher per-pupil - More under-enrolled schools - Same mediocre results

Grade inflation at Harvard: “…60% of grades were A’s during the 2024-25 school year, a jump from about 25% in 2005-06.” The problem is way worse in NYC public schools. De Blasio wanted to replace the SHSAT with top 7% grades; would be disaster. wsj.com/us-news/educat…

I have straight talk for Zohran Kwame Mamdani: His plans to scale back G&T didn’t cost him the election, but they will certainly cost NYC in enrollment. NYC Public Schools is already gushing students. Risking further losses is foolish. My latest for @CenterforEdProg:

Students who needed remedial math jumped from 32 to 1000 at UCSD. Q: How did these students get into a top UC? A: K-12 meaningless grades (with little learning) and the elimination of SAT/ACT. Enlightening piece by Kelsey Piper. theargumentmag.com/p/when-grades-…

An unaffected Manh parent calling for school caps that will force Queens’ families to schlep their 5yo kids to elementary schools far from home. No space. No teachers. #PauseTheMandate politico.com/news/2025/12/0…

Read up on the NYC Public Schools surveys showing the city losing families over academics concerns. My piece for Center for Educational Progress: open.substack.com/pub/educationp…