NYC Schools Chancellor Backs Extending Mayoral Control

Reversal of Mayor Mamdani's Campaign Pledge to End System

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels affirmed Tuesday that he wants to extend mayoral control of New York City's public schools by another four years, a reversal of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's campaign pledge to get rid of the system. Samuels said he backs Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to continue the current system, in which the mayor appoints the chancellor and most members of the main oversight panel.

Why it matters

Mayoral control of the nation's largest school district has been a contentious issue, with proponents arguing it allows for centralized oversight and quick action on system-wide goals, while critics say it sidelines community voices. Mamdani's reversal on the issue aligns him with Gov. Hochul's preference to extend the system.

The details

Samuels said increased 'family empowerment' would strengthen the governance structure, which he dubbed 'mayoral accountability.' He argued that centralized authority under the mayor helps the Department of Education move more quickly on system-wide goals, such as complying with the state's class size mandate. New York City must slash classroom sizes across the board by 2027-28 under state law, and Mamdani has put forth a $12 million-plan to hire 1,000 new teachers a year to meet the mandate.

  • Mayoral control is set to expire in June 2026.
  • New York City must comply with the state's class size mandate by 2027-28.

The players

Kamar Samuels

Schools Chancellor of New York City, appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Zohran Mamdani

Mayor of New York City, who had previously campaigned on ending mayoral control of the public school system.

Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York, who has proposed a four-year extension of the current mayoral control system.

Eric Dinowitz

Councilman representing the Bronx and chair of the City Council's Education Committee.

Jennifer Gutiérrez

Councilwoman representing Brooklyn.

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What they’re saying

“I believe mayoral accountability and family empowerment can and must coexist. Our children deserve both the centralized oversight and execution that allow for real, impactful change and the local input and decision-making that give our families a meaningful say.”

— Kamar Samuels, Schools Chancellor (City Council Hearing)

“Mayoral control will make it easier to hit upcoming class size targets dictated by the state's class size law.”

— Kamar Samuels, Schools Chancellor (City Council Hearing)

What’s next

The City Council will continue to debate the extension of mayoral control, with some members pushing for greater oversight and transparency requirements for the Department of Education.

The takeaway

Mayor Mamdani's reversal on mayoral control of New York City's public schools puts him at odds with his campaign pledge, but aligns him with Gov. Hochul's preference to extend the current system. The debate highlights the ongoing tensions between centralized authority and community input in the governance of the nation's largest school district.