Knicks Ticker-Tape Parade Draws Backlash From Parents Over Regents Exam Conflict

A victory parade for the New York Knicks is set to bring thousands of fans into Manhattan after the team won its first NBA championship since 1973, but the celebration has also sparked frustration among some New York families because it falls on the same day as state science Regents exams.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city will host a ticker-tape parade beginning at 10 a.m. at Battery Park. The parade will move north along Broadway through the Canyon of Heroes and end at City Hall, where the mayor is expected to present the team with the keys to the city. The announcement came soon after the Knicks’ win over the San Antonio Spurs, which energized fans across the five boroughs and set off plans for a citywide tribute.

The timing of the parade, however, has created a conflict for students preparing to take the science Regents. Biology and living environment exams are scheduled for the morning, while the Earth and Space Sciences and Physical Setting/Earth Science exams are set for the afternoon. For students taking those tests, the parade could make it harder to participate in a major civic celebration, and some parents argue the schedule is unfair.

One mother, whose eighth grader is scheduled to take a Regents exam that day, has launched a petition urging city and state officials, along with the team’s owner, to move the parade to another date. She argued that the conflict creates an equity issue because students who are testing would miss out on the chance to take part in a historic moment for the city. Her petition says the celebration should not exclude the students who have worked all year to prepare for the exams.

A student also started a petition calling for school to be canceled entirely on Thursday. In the student’s view, the parade itself could serve as an educational experience, offering lessons about sportsmanship, history, and the excitement of seeing a long-awaited dream come true. The petition describes the event as a rare opportunity for young fans to share in a collective city moment and create lasting memories.

Mayor Mamdani has shown a willingness to make room for schoolchildren in city celebrations. During the Knicks’ championship run, he joked about “canceling” bedtime so children could watch the games, and he was also praised by many families for helping bring back traditional snow days. Still, officials would likely face a difficult task if they tried to secure another waiver from the state for a day off, since schools are already at the minimum required number of instructional days.

The debate highlights the tension between civic celebrations and school obligations, with some families urging flexibility and others likely eager to attend the parade. As the city prepares to honor the Knicks, the question remains whether students taking Regents exams should be allowed to join in the festivities or whether the schedule should stay as planned.