{"id":244,"date":"2023-01-25T16:20:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T16:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/sandra-ung\/?p=244"},"modified":"2026-08-06T16:23:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T16:23:05","slug":"councilmember-ung-presses-doe-officials-on-gt-programs-admission-to-screened-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/sandra-ung\/2023\/01\/25\/councilmember-ung-presses-doe-officials-on-gt-programs-admission-to-screened-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Councilmember Ung Presses DOE Officials on G&T Programs, Admission to Screened Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(NEW YORK CITY)<\/strong> At a hearing before the City Council Committee on Education on Wednesday afternoon, Council Member Sandra Ung pressed Department of Education officials on the future of Gifted & Talented programs, as well as the current criteria considered for admission to the city\u2019s screened schools.<\/p>\n

Noting that the expansion of G&T has been very popular in her Council District, Council Member Ung asked if there are discussions about expanding the program further.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, certainly, and that\u2019s driven by demand. So we will be able to, I think fairly soon, release the figures of how many applications we got for kindergarten G&T this year, but it was substantial. It\u2019s many thousands of families looking for these spots, so we have to look at that, and we have to look at it locally,\u201d testified First Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg, before noting that it would be incumbent on superintendents to gauge demand in their districts for more G&T programs.  \u201cI would not be surprised if what comes up from the ground level is the demand for more G&T seats in particular places, and we will certainly be responsive to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was pleased that DOE officials in their testimony said a major consideration in the decision to expand Gifted & Talented programs would be the demand in local communities,\u201d said Council Member Sandra Ung. \u201cIn my district, families have been advocating for the expansion of G&T programs for years. The third-grade G&T program this year at P.S. 24 was a welcome addition, but we need more seats in my district at both the kindergarten and third-grade level. I look forward to stressing to DOT officials the local support for G&T programs, and working with them to add G&T seats in schools throughout District 20.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, DOE changed the process to allow parents to express their interest in placing their child in a Gifted & Talented program on the same application as for regular kindergarten classes. <\/p>\n

Council Member Ung also asked DOE officials if there are plans to add additional criteria when considering admission to locally screened middle and high schools, including taking into account statewide test scores.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everything is on the table for discussion, and would like to hear multiple perspectives about what would make sense for families and communities,\u201d testified Sarah Kleinhandler, chief enrollment officer at DOE.<\/p>\n

 \u201cAn \u2018A\u2019 in one school isn\u2019t necessarily the same as an \u2018A\u2019 in another school, just as a student who challenges themselves and takes an honors course shouldn\u2019t be judged the same as a student in a regular class in an equivalent subject,\u201d said Council Member Ung, noting the current admissions process only takes into account fourth grade or seventh grade scores in four core subjects. \u201cTaking into account statewide test scores would be an objective measure of a student\u2019s academic achievement, and ensure they are rewarded for their hard work and that admission to our screened schools is more closely tied to merit.\u201d  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(NEW YORK CITY)<\/strong> At a hearing before the City Council Committee on Education on Wednesday afternoon, Council Member Sandra Ung pressed Department of Education officials on the future of Gifted & Talented programs, as well as the current criteria considered for admission to the city\u2019s screened schools.<\/p>\n

Noting that the expansion of G&T has been very popular in her Council District, Council Member Ung asked if there are discussions about expanding the program further.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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