Int. No. 684-A
By Council Members Zhuang, Dinowitz, Carr, Wong, Banks, Louis, Ung, Schulman, Epstein, Brooks-Powers, Riley and Vernikov
A Local Law in relation to requiring a study on how language access needs and geographic location affect access to early elementary gifted and talented programs
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Early elementary gifted and talented programs. The term “early elementary gifted and talented programs” means any accelerated or enriched academic program offered by the department of education to students entering kindergarten through grade 3 on the basis of examination, screening, nomination, or other eligibility determination.
Language access needs. The term “language access needs” means the need for translation, interpretation, or other communication supports for families and students with limited English proficiency.
Office. The term “office” means the mayor’s office of child care and early childhood education.
Preschool-age children. The term “preschool-age children” means children ages 3 through 5 who are enrolled or eligible to enroll in 3-K, prekindergarten, or publicly funded early childhood programming in the city of New York.
b. Required study. The office, in consultation with the department of education and relevant community-based early childhood providers and organizations, shall conduct an analysis of access for preschool-age children to early elementary gifted and talented programs, with a focus on determining the extent to which language access needs and geographic location within the city, including but not limited to borough, community district, and community school district boundaries, predict or correlate with eligibility, nomination, and enrollment in early elementary gifted and talented programs.
c. Study components. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to:
1. Evaluation of the barriers faced by families with limited English proficiency in learning about, preparing for, being nominated for, applying for, and ultimately enrolling in early elementary gifted and talented programs;
2. Assessment of translated materials, interpretation services, community-based outreach, and other language access supports made available to preschool-age children and their families;
3. Identification of disparities in outreach, eligibility determinations, and enrollment of preschool-age children into early elementary gifted and talented programs by language group, and by geographic location within the city, including but not limited to borough, community district, and community school district boundaries; and
4. Recommendations to expand equitable access, including strategies tailored to multilingual households and any geographically underserved areas that are identified.
d. Reporting. No later than 12 months after the effective date of this local law, the office shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and post on the office’s website, a report providing the findings and recommendations described in subdivision c of this section.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
AC
LS #20575
9/30/2026 8:30 pm