What Mamdani's plan for 911,000 NYC students says about the next era of US education

If Zohran Mamdani wins New York City's mayoral race in November, he could usher in a bold new chapter not just for the city's public schools, but for urban education across the US. As the presumptive Democratic nominee, Mamdani would oversee the nation's largest school system—serving roughly 911,000 students across 1,600 schools—and he's signaling that he doesn't intend to lead with a top-down approach.The 33-year-old Queens assemblyman and democratic socialist told Chalkbeat he is "opposed to mayoral control in its current iteration," expressing support for a more participatory system that involves school communities directly. His platform emphasizes equity, transparency, and investment, combining sweeping progressive ideals with a personal connection—Mamdani is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science and a former standardized testing tutor.A vision grounded in equity, care, and public investmentMamdani's education agenda centers heavily on combating child poverty and homelessness—issues he argues are inseparable from student success. During the first primary debate, he highlighted that "500,000 children go to bed hungry each night and 100,000 of the city's students are homeless," as reported by Chalkbeat. He supports expanding the Bronx pilot program "Every Child and Family Is Known," which connects children in shelters with dedicated adult mentors who check in daily.

In line with this care-focused model, Mamdani wants to improve services for students with disabilities. He suggested boosting wages for paraprofessionals to address current staff shortages, which is critical to reducing class sizes and supporting inclusive classrooms. He has also proposed cuts to consultant contracts within the Department of Education to reallocate funding directly into schools.Rethinking early education, child care, and public collegeMamdani's platform proposes universal free child care from birth to age five, with salaries for child care workers matched to those of public school teachers.

On higher education, he advocates for a "new deal" for the CUNY system—including tuition-free education, infrastructure funding, better staff pay, and free OMNY transit cards for students—framing it as an investment in economic justice and workforce development.Challenging traditional governance and curriculum modelsIn a departure from recent administrations, Mamdani opposes centralized mayoral control. He envisions a model that leverages bodies like the Panel for Educational Policy and school leadership teams to co-govern, according to Chalkbeat.

As the current city school governance structure awaits renewal in 2026, this stance could spark major debates.While he supports the literacy initiative launched under Mayor Eric Adams as "a step in the right direction," Mamdani told Chalkbeat he would adjust the program to allow greater teacher discretion and ensure materials are adapted for diverse learners. He underscored the need for culturally responsive teaching and robust professional development.Addressing class sizes, school safety, and segregationMamdani has expressed a commitment to meeting the state's class size mandate, even though it's projected to cost up to $1.9 billion annually. He suggested conducting a full audit of the Department of Education to locate inefficiencies and reinvest funds in hiring teachers and expanding classroom space. He also mentioned capping enrollment at overcrowded schools and pursuing mergers "where appropriate," Chalkbeat reported.On school safety, he proposes investing in guidance counselors, mental health professionals, and restorative justice models over expanding the school safety force. Mamdani told Chalkbeat he supports forming a youth advisory committee to prevent hate violence and believes restorative practices will help "students remain in schools, learn from mistakes, grow conflict resolution skills, and improve academic outcomes.

"A progressive but uncertain path forwardWhile Mamdani's agenda resonates with a growing progressive movement in US education, critics may raise concerns about its feasibility. The scale of proposed spending lacks full financial detail, and his opposition to mayoral control could raise questions about accountability. With limited experience managing education systems, Mamdani's ability to deliver on sweeping promises remains to be seen.

Still, as reported by Chalkbeat, Mamdani stated: "I am running to protect New Yorkers from Trump," adding that his education policies will shield families from "his attacks on funding for vital services." His campaign makes clear: the future of NYC's schools—and perhaps urban education nationwide—may hinge on how voters interpret that promise.