A recent study criticizes the Democratic mayoral candidates for their lack of focus on effective education policies. The Manhattan Institute’s report, titled “Education Agenda for New York City’s Mayor,” advocates for a return to successful initiatives from prior administrations, such as expanding charter schools, increasing merit-based and innovative schools, consolidating underperforming schools, and introducing transparent performance ratings through report cards.

It also urges scaling back the expensive class size reduction law, which has contributed to NYC’s $40 billion-plus education budget—already averaging $33,000 per student—even as enrollment dips 12% since 2019 amid the pandemic.

However, the report laments that most leading Democratic candidates haven’t endorsed these strategies, with the exception of Whitney Tilson, who has championed school choice and accountability reforms but remains low in polls. The authors highlighted that under Bloomberg’s administration, education improved notably, especially for low-income students and minority communities, largely due to the rise of charter schools, which now serve about 150,000 students in NYC.

The current candidates largely favor community schools with wraparound services, a policy criticized as ineffective. Some proposals include reducing mayoral control over the Department of Education, which critics say undermines accountability. Others, like Zohran Mamdani, suggest removing mayoral oversight entirely, which could weaken school accountability.

On the other hand, Mayor Eric Adams has implemented the NY Reads program focusing on phonics and literacy, but other reforms have been limited. The report notes many schools suffer from low enrollment, with 22 schools having fewer than 150 students. This inefficiency exacerbates educational challenges, as recent NAEP scores show only a third of fourth graders are proficient in math and reading, and even fewer in middle school.

Recommendations include expanding admission-based middle and high schools, increasing career-oriented schools to connect students with jobs, easing charter school caps, and restructuring governance to enhance accountability. The goal is to prioritize effective, targeted reforms that can lift education standards across NYC.