Rep. Elise Stefanik is demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul provide transparency about curriculum and teaching materials funded by Qatar or âmalign domestic actorsâ being used in New York schools, including material that she believes distorts the history of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Stefanik (R-NY), who is running against Hochul (D) in next yearâs election, contended that because the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) has refused to release the curriculum, the governor needs to step in.
âThe [NYC] DOE has refused to provide copies of teaching materials that twist the narratives of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks and the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, in Israel,â Stefanik wrote in the letter obtained by The Post.

Stefanik raised concerns about curriculum and other content funded by Qatar and teaching materials from âmalign domestic actorsâ that could give students a distorted view of 9/11.
The New York rep pointed to $1 million in funding from Qatar Foundation International that went to P.S. 261, an elementary school in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and P.S./I.S. 30, a public school in Bay Ridge.
Stefanik also raised concerns about teaching material from Bridging Cultures, an education contractor led by Dr. Debbie Almontaser, who is also in charge of the Muslim Community Network (MCN) and has a âlong history of soft-pedaling violence,â Stefanik claimed. Almontaser will see her influence over New York City rise under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (D), she warned.

Bridging Cultures offers a course on teaching the history of 9/11 in the classroom. But Stefanik underscored how MCN has a history of vilifying âthose who want to recognize radical Islamâs role in the attacks.â
She also recalled how MCN petitioned to scrap federal funding for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, contending that it conflates âall Islam with specific terroristic ideologies.â
Bridging Cultures held workshops about the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks, which she argues âerases Israeli suffering.â

âThe NYC DOE partnered with Bridging Cultures to train teachers on how to speak to students about 10/7, the war in Gaza, and the anti-Israel protest movement,â Stefanik noted.
Both MCN and Bridging Cultures have received at least $14.7 million from New York City since 2014, public records cited by Stefanik show.
Stefanik laid out a list of questions and requests for Hochul, seeking material such as details about all contracts between Qatar Foundation International and public schools throughout NYC, copies of current and previously used curriculum, and information about why the NYC DOE allowed.

Moreover, Stefanik demanded Hochul work with the Commissioner of the New York State Department to investigate why the NYC DOE allowed Qatar to help fund two of its public schools, why it partners with Bridging Cultures and MCN, and more.
She requested that information âas soon as possible.â But Hochulâs team brushed aside the request.
âThis letter reflects Congresswoman Stefanikâs misunderstanding of how New Yorkâs education system and mayoral control operate,â Hochulâs deputy press secretary Emma Wallner shot back in a statement to The Post.
Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki was more direct and accused Stefanik of bending the knee to President Trump.
âMore lies from Elise Stefanik to distract from her record of selling out New York kids and families to Donald Trump, refusing to lift a finger when he gutted the Department of Education and when he withheld $464 million from New York schools,â Radulovacki chided.
Leave a Reply