Education has largely taken a back seat in New York City’s mayoral race, even though the next mayor will oversee the nation’s largest school system and its $40 billion budget. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani has focused on supporting the city’s most vulnerable students and has called for ending mayoral control in favor of more democratic co-governance with parents and educators. His opponents, Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, back strong mayoral control and propose expanding selective programs (such as gifted and talented programs) that historically serve more advantaged students. Mamdani’s vision emphasizes equity through community schools, smaller class sizes, and careful oversight of charter schools, signaling a shift toward inclusion and shared decision-making in the city’s approach to education policy.