Why it might - or might not - workįrank Worrell, a professor of education and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, said it’s encouraging that the city is proposing to do away with a single test for admissions, opting instead for a program that provides “universal access.” Officials did not specify how third graders would be screened - which could be crucial when it comes to creating a program that is more representative of the city’s enrollment. Keeping children in mixed classrooms would solve an issue currently seen in many schools with gifted programs, where classrooms within the same school building are racially segregated. Third graders who have been screened for accelerated instruction in certain subjects would remain in general education classes, but might be pulled out for small group work or given additional assignments tackling real-world problems using robotics, coding, or community organizing. The new program, called Brilliant NYC, would start in the fall of 2022 and be phased into first and second grade the following years. Under the new model, the city would train roughly 4,000 teachers and hire additional teachers already versed in accelerated learning to work in neighborhoods with historically little to no gifted programming, city officials said Friday. There are few students with disabilities or who are learning English as a new language in gifted classrooms. Just over a quarter of students come from low-income families, compared with almost 70% citywide. The classrooms are segregated in other ways. Meanwhile, more than 70% of gifted seats go to Asian American and white students, who make up less than a third of the city’s overall student population. They fill only 14% of gifted seats, but make up nearly 60% of kindergartners citywide.

Many advocates and parents have blasted the test, which is administered one-on-one to children when they’re about 4, for resulting in a system that largely excludes Black and Latino students. City officials did not immediately say what will happen with the five citywide gifted schools, like Anderson and Nest+m, which enroll only children who have tested into the current gifted program.Ĭurrently, about 2,500 kindergartners a year score seats in 80 schools to the highly selective program, with many families - with and without means - spending time and money to prep their preschoolers for the exam. Under de Blasio’s proposal, children currently in gifted classes will continue in the program until they finish elementary school. “Clearly the department of education must improve outcomes for children from lower-income areas.” Current landscape “Eric will assess the plan and reserves his right to implement policies based on the needs of students and parents, should he become mayor,” said Adams campaign spokesperson Evan Thies. On Friday, a spokesperson for Adams said he would act independently, if elected. Adams has offered a much different vision for the coveted gifted programs, proposing instead to keep the admissions test and add more gifted classrooms in communities across the city. De Blasio has about three months left in his term and Democratic candidate Eric Adams i s widely expected to replace him.

Gifted testing