New York City Mayor appoints new Panel for Education Policy members

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed 13 new members to the Panel for Education Policy. Critics have raised concerns regarding the ideological backgrounds of several appointees, including Lucas Koehler, Raysa Rodriguez, and Madeline Fox.

These appointments come amid reports of declining academic performance in the city's public schools. Data indicates that the percentage of 3rd- to 5th-grade students failing state reading tests has increased by approximately 10 points, with over half of students in those grades failing. Additionally, an Empire Center poll suggests that 95% of New Yorkers believe the Department of Education must improve reading and math scores.