Res. No. 544
Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to improve the process for Gifted and Talented testing by processing exams earlier and making sure that parents selecting Gifted and Talented schools are removed from their zoned school's register in a timely manner.
By Council Members Lappin, Brewer, Cabrera, Fidler, Gentile, Palma, Rose and Williams
Whereas, The New York City Department of Education (DOE) provides a standards-based instructional program for students with "exceptional capacity or creative talent"; and
Whereas, The DOE Department of Gifted/Talented & Enrichment is responsible for developing policy and program recommendations to meet the educational needs of gifted students while also ensuring equity of access to G&T programs for all students in New York City public schools; and
Whereas, These gifted and talented programs are district-based and begin in kindergarten or first grade in every borough; and
Whereas, According to the DOE, gifted and talented students are identified after a rigorous testing process; and
Whereas, The DOE then places those identified as gifted and talented in programs located in various schools across the City; and
Whereas; Families interested in applying for seats in elementary school gifted and talented programs for 2011 must submit a "request for testing" form by November 17, 2010 in order to register their child for the required admissions test; and
Whereas, According to the DOE, the test will be administered at various times from January through March, and the scores will be available in May; and
Whereas, Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on the admissions test will receive an application upon which they can rank their preferences for gifted and talented programs in their district; and
Whereas, Students entering kindergarten and first grade who score at or above the 90th percentile on the admissions test will be guaranteed a seat in a district gifted and talented program as long as they rank all the district's programs on their application; and
Whereas, A gifted and talented program placement is not guaranteed for students testing for second and third grade seats, even if they score at or above the 90th percentile, seats are only open to the extent that vacancies are available in existing classes; and
Whereas, Additionally, students who score at or above the 97th percentile will be able to also rank the citywide gifted programs on their application, however, admission to these programs is not guaranteed in any grade; and
Whereas, Currently, the process used to identify these students is cumbersome and time consuming leaving many families scrambling with uncertain placements until at least June; and
Whereas, While these decisions are being made, many children are left on their zoned school's register, thereby using a slot that may in actuality be vacant; and
Whereas, The timing of test results and the lateness of decisions creates anxiety and confusion for families trying to plan for the school year and limits a community schools' capacity to serve children; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to improve the process for Gifted and Talented testing by processing exams earlier and making sure that parents selecting Gifted and Talented schools are removed from their zoned school's register in a timely manner.
JP
LS 1381
10/14/10