Adams Says He Won't Scrap NYC Gifted And Talented Program

NEW YORK CITY — An eleventh-hour plan by Mayor Bill de Blasio to phase out the city's gifted and talented program isn't getting a favorable grade from his favored successor.

Eric Adams, the Democratic mayoral nominee, said Friday he not only will keep the gifted program, he'll expand it.

De Blasio simply can't get rid of it because he's a lame duck, Adams insinuated.

"He can't get rid of it until next year," he said on CNN's New Day. "There's a new mayor next year — that mayor must evaluate how he's going to deal with the gifted and talented program. There's nothing to put back in place because the next mayor must make the determination."

The proposal to scrap the city's gifted and talented program fulfilled a long-held goal by many advocates who argued it perpetuated segregation in public schools.

Only 2,500 kindergarteners are eligible for the program and admission is determined by a test for 4-year-olds. Mostly white and Asian American students make it into the program.

De Blasio proposed to phase out gifted and talented starting in fall 2022 and replaced it with "Brilliant NYC," an accelerated learning model that gives additional programming to students within classrooms.

But Adams, who has received glowing praise from de Blasio, gave the proposal a cool response. His latest remarks on CNN are only the latest indication he's not completely on board with de Blasio's plan.

Adams said he'd expand the gifted program and opportunities for accelerated learning — a promise that's broadly similar, but not entirely the same as de Blasio's proposal. He also said he'd work to break down classroom barriers for students who "learn differently," such as those with dyslexia.