Change is the only constant thing in this world, and it is happening right now in the school system we know and love. With the inauguration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the appointment of NYCDOE chancellor of Kamar Samuels, there are many changes in store for New York City Public Schools. First and foremost, you are all probably curious about what is happening with the Regents exams. It was announced that this is the last year the NYS Regents Exams are being administered in schools. The future is uncertain, but it will most likely be some other form of competency testing. I interviewed Patrick Howell, an AP U.S History teacher and part-time college counselor at Brooklyn Community Arts and Media High School(BCAM) pointed out that “during COVID-19 we saw that we didn’t really need the regents exams” because no one was able to take the exams and everyone got to pass regardless. He added that the exams aren’t always the most accurate indicator of success. I also interviewed Lydia Bach, a senior at BHSECQ. She said that “standardized tests will never prove how smart someone is” and that the exam shouldn’t have a replacement because “It’s old and outdated. My grandfather literally took the same tests.”
Another big change is the inauguration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani has put many equitable early childhood education options out there for working parents who need free, high quality childcare. Originally, he was going to relinquish Mayoral Control of the schools so that parents, teachers and other staff could have more say in how their schools are run. However, he decided against it. He said that, “With the appointment of Kamar(the new chancellor), I want to acknowledge I have been skeptical of mayoral control in the past, even at times going as far as wanting to end the system entirely. So though I have my concerns about mayoral control, I also acknowledge that New Yorkers need to know where the buck stops: with me.” Even though he kept control of the schools, he still promises to engage with families and those working in New York City Public Schools.
Mamdani appointed Kamar Samuels, a Jamaican American diversity and equity advocate, as the new NYCDOE chancellor on January 1st, 2026. Samuels has taught at PS 41 in the Bronx, was the principal at Bronx Writing Academy (MS 323), was a deputy superintendent and superintendent in Brooklyn and led his district’s implementation of NYC Reads, which increased literacy scores by 5%. He prioritizes equity and racial integration in schools, as well as a different approach to giving the students of NYC a high quality education. You’re probably aware of the Gifted and Talented programs in elementary schools. They are not always equitable because not every family has the time of the money to help prepare their child for the rigorous testing that is needed for these programs. Samuels has looked to the International Baccalaureate (IB) model to provide a more inclusive form of high quality education. This helps promote schoolwide enrichment as opposed to separating the “gifted” students from the rest of the students. Howell has said that he is pleased with the way Samuels is trying to reorganize things within the system to make it more equitable for all students.
However, there are some negative changes as well. Howell said that schools are funded based on their population, meaning that smaller schools have to shut down or be consolidated. The population of New York City Public Schools has been steadily decreasing ever since COVID-19. People have been moving out of the city or sending their children to private or charter schools. Selective high schools like Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech benefit because they have a large population, so they will continue to get more funding while smaller, non-selective and underfunded schools could shut down. The Mamdani Administration’s plans for funding are unclear, but his tax on second homes can potentially add to the budget for New York City Public Schools.