On January 29th, a joint hearing on education budget was held at the New York State Legislature. State Senator Chen Xueli from the Southern Brooklyn District and State Assemblyman Zheng Yongjia raised questions to officials from the New York City Department of Education regarding the proposed adjustments to the Gifted and Talented (G&T) program, as well as issues related to school staffing structure and student attendance. On the other hand, State Senator and Chairman of the State Senate Education Committee in Queens’ Flushing district, Liu Chun-yi, focused on the impact of federal education policies and the education voucher program on New York State public schools.
Senator Chen Xueli of New York State expressed concerns about Mayor Mamdani’s intention to gradually eliminate the longstanding G&T program implemented by the New York City Department of Education, which has raised high levels of apprehension among parents. He emphasized that the gifted education program has been acclaimed by parents and students for many years, and if there are indeed adjustments in policy direction, the city government should clearly explain the transition process and evaluation criteria.
“As a parent and chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), I have heard many parental concerns,” stated Senator Chen Xueli during the meeting, emphasizing that any significant changes regarding gifted education should be carefully implemented after wide consultation with parents.
In response, New York City Education Director Kamar Samuels stated that the city government has not yet finalized the direction of the G&T program and will engage with parents and the school community to understand which systems are truly effective for students before making policy decisions.
State Assemblyman Zheng Yongjia, whose district overlaps significantly with Senator Chen Xueli’s, further focused on the practical issues of the G&T education enrollment system. He pointed out that prior to the pandemic, New York City conducted a standardized test for children aged four and above, but starting from 2021, the testing has been halted and replaced with a nomination and lottery system.
Zheng Yongjia inquired whether the testing system would be resumed in September 2026 and if the previous testing format would still be utilized. Education officials responded that due to the lack of approval from the education policy committee for the previous test provider, there are currently no plans to reintroduce the testing, and the nomination and lottery system will continue in the short term.
Officials added that the city government will engage in further discussions with schools offering G&T programs and families, and based on research and data, reevaluate whether academic assessments should be postponed to an older age for implementation.
In addition to gifted education, Assemblyman Zheng Yongjia also raised concerns about the high rate of absenteeism among high school students. He cited data indicating that the absentee rate at the high school level is close to thirty percent and requested the city government to explain the new measures to improve the situation.
Education officials responded, stating that the decline in student attendance is a nationwide phenomenon post-pandemic, spanning across different grades and ethnic groups. The city government is examining school calendars and low attendance dates to assess how to increase students’ willingness to return to school through curriculum and campus activity designs.
Furthermore, Senator Chen Xueli also highlighted the issue of the low proportion of Asian teachers and school administrators in the meeting. The Education Director responded that every student should see teachers and administrators with similar backgrounds on campus, and the city government will continue to focus on diversifying the teaching staff.
Both legislators emphasized that education policies not only involve institutional adjustments but also impact community trust and the development of the next generation, urging the city government to maintain transparency during the reform process and prioritize the voices of parents and students.
Chairman Liu Chun-yi of the State Senate Education Committee also questioned Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Commissioner of Education and President of the New York State University System, about the impact of federal education policies and the federal education voucher program proposed by the White House on New York State public schools. Dr. Rosa stated that New York State has a relatively low reliance on federal funds, thus the immediate financial impact is limited, but the state government and the education department are closely monitoring potential long-term and “unforeseen consequences” of related policies, particularly in the framework of “parental choice,” affecting resource allocation, educational quality, and equity in public schools. She emphasized that the state has been actively participating in national-level discussions, legal and policy analysis, and collaborating with the governor and relevant departments to ensure that New York State continues to advocate for students in education policy and seek guarantees.