Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 13 members to the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), a governing board that oversees many decisions affecting NYC public schools, ahead of the panel’s inaugural 2026-27 meeting on Wednesday. “Public schools belong to New Yorkers, and the families, students and educators who make them what they are deserve a real voice in the decisions that shape them,” Mamdani said. According to the DOE, most PEP members include former educators such as teachers and principals, advocates and specialists in their varying fields. “The Panel for Educational Policy is a critical partner in ensuring that the voices of families and communities are heard and reflected in the decisions that shape our schools,” Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said. I look forward to working alongside our new members in service of every child and the future of public education.”