UFT boss calls out Mamdani admin after embarrassing NYC school reading scores

Key Points:

• United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Mike Mulgrew criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Reads literacy initiative after more than half of public school students in grades 3-5 failed their reading proficiency exams, highlighting a growing rift between the union and the mayor’s administration.
• Citywide English Language Arts scores for grades 3-8 dropped by 6% from last year, with only about half of students deemed proficient, despite the continuation of the NYC Reads program initiated under former Mayor Eric Adams and extended by Mamdani.
• Mulgrew demanded clearer instructional plans and better program alignment in schools, warning that the union would not support the program if it continues as implemented last year, while the mayor defended NYC Reads as based on effective national findings.
• A separate conflict centers on pay raises for paraprofessionals, with Mulgrew pushing for a $10,000 increase that Mamdani promised during his campaign but now hesitates to approve, citing concerns over undermining collective bargaining and legal issues.
• Mulgrew emphasized the urgent need to address paraprofessional shortages affecting special needs students and warned that failure to act is costing taxpayers over a billion dollars annually in lawsuits, urging the mayor to fulfill his campaign commitment.