The debate over who should run New York City’s schools has become a defining issue in the mayoral race, with Zohran Mamdani calling for an end to the city’s undemocratic system of mayoral control in favor of greater community and educator voice. His stance, backed by teachers and progressive families, reflects growing frustration with decades … Continue reading Should the Mayor Control N.Y.C. Schools? Mamdani and Cuomo Don’t Agree.
Here’s Where NYC Mayoral Candidates Stand on Key Issues
In a Bloomberg article on New York City’s mayoral race, education and child care emerged as key tests of how the candidates would address inequality and affordability. Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani called for fully universal child care, while also questioning the concentration of mayoral power over public schools. He supports smaller class sizes, stronger community … Continue reading Here’s Where NYC Mayoral Candidates Stand on Key Issues
Where the NYC mayoral candidates stand on the future of education
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 … Continue reading Where the NYC mayoral candidates stand on the future of education
Cellphone bans can help kids learn — but Black students are suspended more as schools make the shift
Florida’s cellphone ban led to small improvements in attendance and test scores but also revealed serious racial and economic inequities as suspensions for Black students rose sharply in the first year. The study shows that policies meant to help students can still deepen inequality when they ignore existing disparities in schools. Real progress will come … Continue reading Cellphone bans can help kids learn — but Black students are suspended more as schools make the shift
AQE Endorses Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of New York City
NEW YORK, NY (October 14, 2025) — The public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education today announced its endorsement of Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of New York City. “For a quarter century, we’ve organized to ensure every child in New York has access to a quality education,” said AQE co-executive directors Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and … Continue reading AQE Endorses Zohran Mamdani for Mayor of New York City
Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments
A report from the Learning Policy Institute finds that while school shootings have prompted widespread interest in behavioral threat assessment (BTA) systems, physical security measures alone do little to prevent violence. When implemented with strong mental health supports and a positive school climate, BTAs can reduce suspensions, bullying, and disparities in discipline while promoting fairness … Continue reading Keeping Schools Safe? The Research on Behavioral Threat Assessments
140,000 N.Y.C. Students Are Homeless. Can the Next Mayor Change That?
New York City’s worsening housing crisis has left more than 140,000 students without stable homes, deepening educational inequality and trapping families in cycles of hardship. Zohran Mamdani has pledged to confront this crisis head-on by expanding programs that connect homeless families with city support and by centering housing security as a core part of educational … Continue reading 140,000 N.Y.C. Students Are Homeless. Can the Next Mayor Change That?
Mamdani Says He Would Phase Out N.Y.C. Gifted Program for Early Grades
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner for New York City mayor, has announced his plan to phase out the city’s gifted and talented program for kindergarteners, reviving a proposal first floated under Mayor de Blasio. The program, which enrolls fewer than 5 percent of students in kindergarten, has long been criticized for deepening segregation and limiting … Continue reading Mamdani Says He Would Phase Out N.Y.C. Gifted Program for Early Grades
The Charter School Pressuring Teachers to Get Involved In Politics
Success Academy and other charter networks pressured teachers, parents, and students to attend a pro-charter rally in New York City, even requiring staff to prove they had lobbied elected officials. Educators described an atmosphere of coercion and intimidation, where opting out could jeopardize their jobs. AQE’s Co-Executive Director Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari underscored that forcing families into … Continue reading The Charter School Pressuring Teachers to Get Involved In Politics
Keep Our Kids In Their Classrooms, Not Out!
Too many students in New York are losing classroom time to suspensions that do little to address behavior and instead push young people further to the margins. These policies hit hardest on Black and Latinx students, immigrant youth, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities – feeding the school-to-prison pipeline and deepening inequities. The Judith S. … Continue reading Keep Our Kids In Their Classrooms, Not Out!