Mayor Adams on Tuesday poured cold water on the idea that deportation fears since President Trump’s inauguration have led to a drop-off in New York City public school attendance — despite early signs that some immigrant families are fearful about sending their children to school.
In the immediate aftermath of Trump’s return to power, the city’s school system recorded attendance rates between 84 and 89%, compared to a range of 89 to 92% during the same week last year, according to data provided by local education officials to state lawmakers.
“People are making this appear as if there is a mass exodus from our schools,” Mayor Adams told reporters after testifying on the state budget in Albany. “That’s not true. There isn’t a max exodus.”
Adams, who has said he would refrain from crtiicizing Trump in public but deal with him one-on-one instead, argued that there are a “lot of things” that go into attendance rates dropping — including Regents exams administered that week and winter illnesses, such as the common cold.
“There’s a lot of things that’s going on, and what I’m trying to say to New Yorkers: Let’s not add to the anxiety that these children are feeling,” he said. “And I’ve been very clear: Children should go to school.”
Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos revealed the attendance data last week during a hearing on the state education budget. She suggested the drop, while not “egregious,” could be attributed at least in part to fear among immigrant families — in addition to other factors, such as the cold weather.
“What we can safely say is that it is one of several factors,” Aviles-Ramos said last Wednesday. “We know that there is fear amongst our families.”
A week later in response to an inquiry from the Daily News, the Education Department walked back the use of week-to-week comparisons, pointing to monthly attendance data that showed a 1.5% decrease in attendance in line with the year prior. (Trump did not assume office until three weeks into January.)
But early signs have been a source of concern for elected officials and advocates.
On Monday, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine — who is running for comptroller — sent a letter to the Adams administration, calling on teachers and staff not to report immigrant families with low attendance to child welfare authorities.
The Administration for Children’s Services has not seen an increase in reports of educational neglect but will monitor for any uptick, a spokesperson confirmed; City Hall did not immediately return a request for comment on that issue.
“It’s devastating that they are having to stay home and miss out on classes, but it would be even more terrible if ACS opens a case against a family,” Levine told The News. “We need the mayor to promise that our schools won’t become grounds for fishing expeditions for ICE.”
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens), who is running against Adams in this year’s mayoral primary, said during Tuesday’s hearing that he has seen a decline in attendance among immigrant students since Trump rescinded a long-standing policy that prevented ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations, such as schools.
“To put these families at ease, will you today clearly state that as long as ICE does not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, you will deny them entry into New York City public schools?” Mamdani asked.
In response, Adams suggested he would need to review Trump’s executive orders, or “EOs.” The city’s current policy directs principals to deny entry to immigration authorities until they consult an agency lawyer about the warrant.
“We are examining all the EOs, and based on those EOs, we would never put an employee of the city in harm’s way,” Adams said, referring to guidance that city workers should not put themselves physically in danger.
Naveed Hasan, an advocate for immigrant students who sits on the city’s Panel for Educational Policy, said agencies are doing a “good job” informing parents of their rights to continue sending children to school, but blamed the mayor for rhetoric that makes families feel unsafe.
“He has repeatedly made statements that he didn’t want to antagonize the president, when he had no issue with criticizing the previous president,” Hasan said. “That is causing a vacuum in people’s confidence in leadership and trust in what’s going to happen to them.”