New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is dividing education advocates with his calls to ax a gifted program in schools.

Gifted programs have little standard regulation, but their defenders argue they are a necessity for children who are ahead of their grade level, while opponents voice equity concerns.

New York City Public Schools have an early gifted program that starts in kindergarten, involving approximately 5 percent the district's student population. Mamdani, who leads polls ahead of the election next month, is the only candidate to propose ending the program, according to questionnaires given to the candidates by The New York Times.

A separate gifted program in the city starts at third grade, a more common age group for the process nationwide.

“Zohran knows that five year-olds should not be subjected to a singular assessment that unfairly separates them right at the beginning of their public school education. His agenda for our schools will ensure that every New York City public school student receives a high-quality early education that enables them to be challenged and fulfilled,” said campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec.

Experts' concerns with gifted programs, particularly for those at such a young age, often center around issues of access and screening, which, lacking federal........

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