Five Questions for New York’s Education Leaders

The hearing on elementary and secondary education is taking place on Thursday, amid ongoing debates over how to fund schools equitably, close learning gaps exacerbated by the pandemic, address a persistent teen mental health crisis, and respond to declining public school enrollment. As the state’s education system also navigates disruptions and uncertainty related to federal funding, the hearing could offer a roadmap for keeping New York schools on track in meeting students’ needs and improving academic outcomes.

Here are five questions we’d ask state and city education officials on Thursday.

How is the state ensuring that school districts are safeguarding the rights of immigrant students?

Last week in Minnesota, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement took a 5-year-old boy into custody after school, detaining him and his father and transporting them to a Texas detention center. The incident, along with other recent immigration-related detentions of children, has fueled a national debate over the treatment and safety of immigrant students.

In guidance issued to school districts last year, the New York attorney general’s office asserted that schools need court orders and parental permission to allow agents to question students or take them into custody, and should not disclose student information to federal or local law enforcement without requesting a subpoena and consulting with their attorney.

The guidance also emphasizes that schools cannot deny admission based on immigration status and must promptly enroll migrant children even if they lack proof of residency, immunizations, or school records. But how does the state ensure that districts comply with this guidance — and what are the consequences if a district fails to do so?

Does the governor’s proposal provide enough incentive to close gaps in access to universal pre-K?

While New York has long had a universal pre-K program, school districts can choose whether to opt in. Dozens do not, in many cases due to insufficient state funding, limited space, and workforce shortages.

Hochul wants to pour $470 million into the program, with the goal of ensuring all 4-year-olds have access to free pre-K by the start of the 2028–29 school year. That would up the state’s per-pupil contribution from a minimum of $5,400 to $10,000 — a major incentive for cash-strapped districts. Some advocates are instead calling for a policy that would make district participation mandatory, arguing that the additional funds won’t address other reasons districts do not offer it.

Is $470 million enough, or is a mandate the only viable path toward achieving truly universal pre-K in New York?

How will mayoral control of New York City public schools change under Mamdani’s leadership?

Under the current system, the New York City mayor appoints the city’s schools chancellor and a majority of the members to the Panel for Educational Policy, which acts as a de facto school board for the nation’s largest school system. On the campaign trail, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani pledged to eliminate mayoral control in response to calls from parents and advocates for a more democratic governance model that expands opportunities for parental input.

Last month, Mamdani reversed course, saying he would request an extension of mayoral control, though he said he and his schools chancellor Kamar Samuels intend to “engage parents, teachers, and students in decision-making.”

What specific changes will the Mamdani administration make to the governing structure?

How is the state Education Department ensuring Hochul’s “Back to Basics” initiative translates into measurable improvements in student learning?

In 2024, more than one-third of New York eighth graders scored below the basic reading proficiency level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam. Passed the same year, the governor’s plan to boost reading proficiency across the state required schools to move away from balanced literacy and adopt evidence-based, science-of-reading techniques.

As part of the effort, the state allocated $10 million toward training 20,000 teachers in instructional best practices, among other initiatives. Public school districts were also required to certify that their curricula, instructional strategies, and professional development for teachers aligned with phonics-based reading instruction in September 2025. With the governor planning to launch a similar initiative in math, it’s worth asking about the current status of the program, whether all districts are complying, and what metrics the state is using to evaluate its success.

Are there any plans to revisit or adjust the Foundation Aid formula to meet district needs?