NYC mayor election 2025: How Mamdani vs. Cuomo’s plans for charter schools and Foundation Aid could shape NYC classrooms

The race for New York City mayor in 2025 has brought education policy into sharp focus. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate leading the polls, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, the independent trailing him, offer contrasting visions for the city’s public schools, particularly regarding charter schools and Foundation Aid.

The winner will inherit one of the largest and most complex school systems in the nation, overseeing nearly 900,000 students and a $41 billion budget.City schools face a host of challenges despite rising graduation rates. College readiness remains low, with just 52% of high school students considered ready for freshman-level college coursework, according to a state comptroller audit, as noted by the Chalkbeat.

Chronic absenteeism is also a concern, with one in three students missing at least 10% of school last year. These issues have intensified scrutiny on mayoral candidates’ education plans.Comparing Mamdani and Cuomo on charter schoolsMamdani has largely avoided detailed discussion of education on the campaign trail. His website once devoted only a 168-word paragraph to K-12 education, highlighting limited engagement with specific policy proposals, as reported by the Chalkbeat.

In contrast, Cuomo has actively promoted the expansion of gifted programmes, specialized high schools, and charter schools. “Charter schools provide families with options and encourage innovation in teaching,” Cuomo said in conversation with the Chalkbeat.The candidates’ differing stances extend to governance. Mamdani has suggested reviewing the two decades of mayoral control that grant the mayor extensive power over school leadership, including chancellor appointments.

Cuomo, by contrast, supports maintaining mayoral oversight while expanding school choice initiatives. These positions reflect broader differences in educational philosophy and approach to public accountability.Foundation Aid and budget prioritiesFunding allocation is another key point of divergence. Cuomo’s record as governor includes partial increases in Foundation Aid, a state formula meant to send more resources to high-needs schools, but he never fully funded it, drawing criticism from education advocates, as quoted by the Chalkbeat.

Mamdani has not presented a detailed plan for Foundation Aid distribution but has indicated interest in reassessing funding priorities to address inequalities in the system.With a $41 billion budget and 150,000 staffers, New York City public schools represent one of the nation’s largest education systems. Cuomo emphasises efficiency in spending and targeted investment, while Mamdani’s proposals are still emerging.

Both candidates acknowledge challenges with absenteeism and stagnant scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which remain essentially unchanged since 2003.Student outcomes and challengesDespite improvements in graduation rates over the past 20 years, reading and math test scores show slow progress post-pandemic. The city also contends with underprepared students entering college-level coursework.

As quoted by the Chalkbeat, Mamdani said, “We must ensure every student can access the resources they need to succeed.” Cuomo similarly highlighted the importance of targeted interventions, stating in conversation with the Chalkbeat, “Our approach must combine strong leadership with accountability to parents and teachers.

”The mayoral election will determine the future of New York City’s schools. Voters will weigh contrasting plans for charter schools, Foundation Aid, and broader K-12 education reforms. How the next mayor addresses these issues could have long-lasting implications for the city’s classrooms and student outcomes.