Queens pols slam plan to nix gifted and talented programs
BY BILL PARRY
Queens lawmakers
were alarmed by the
recommendations made by
a blue ribbon panel selected
by Mayor Bill de Blasio that
would phase out most gifted
and talented programs and
eliminate most selective
admissions in New York
City’s public school system.
The report, released by the
School Diversity Advisory
Group on Aug. 27, listed a
number of proposals to help
integrate schools by ending
programs that enroll mostly
white and Asian students,
while black and Hispanic
students make up the majority
of the city’s 1.1 million public
school students.
Councilman Peter Koo
“wholeheartedly condemned”
the report that would
eliminate the gifted and
talented programs.
“These classes are coveted
by many students and
parents throughout the city
and need to be expanded if
anything, not eradicated,”
Koo said. “Yet, instead of
working to increase access
for students in underserved
communities, this proposal
seeks to completely
remove all opportunities
to an advanced education.
Increasing diversity and
expanding access to higher
education should not mean
scapegoating success. I
urge the mayor to reject
this proposal.”
During an interview on
MSNBC, de Blasio said he had
not had a chance to review
the report. QNS reached out
to City Hall and is awaiting
a response.
“Extensive evidence in
this report suggests that
existing screens and Gifted
and Talented is unfair, unjust
and not necessarily research
based,” the panel wrote. “As
a result, these programs
segregate students by race,
class, abilities and language
and perpetuate stereotypes
about student potential
and achievement.”
Councilman Barry
Grodenchik called the idea of
phasing out gifted and talented
programs misguided.
“These programs allow our
best and brightest children
Elementary school kids raising hands to teacher, back view
to flourish in environments
that appropriately challenge
and engage these exceptional
young learners,” Grodenchik
said. “Cutting such programs
serves no constructive
purpose; rather than
diversifying our schools,
the elimination of gifted and
talented programs would
simply drive parents out
of the city’s public school
system, further exacerbating
the racial divide that the plan
Photo via Getty Images
purports to address.”
During a press conference,
Schools Chancellor Richard
Carranza said, “These
recommendations point
to a future where every
student has access to
rigorous, inspiring, engaging
education,” adding that “this
is not about lowering the bar,
it’s about giving all of our
students what they need to
meet the bar.”
Grodenchik, a lifelong
Queens resident who grew
up in NYCHA’s Pomonok
Houses and Flushing while
attending Queens public
schools, further slammed the
School Diversity Advisory
Group’s recommendation.
“The gifted programs in my
Queens district are models of
diversity, filled with students
whose families emigrated
from across the globe, often
with the goal of entering
these specific schools and
programs,” Grodenchik said.
“Instead of phasing out gifted
and talented programs, we
should be adding more such
programs across the city,
especially in neighborhoods
where programs that attract
families of gifted children
are scarce. There are gifted
children in every corner
of the city, and it is our job
to provide the programs
that will truly support
and elevate the leaders of
tomorrow, regardless of their
ZIP codes.”
Reach reporter Bill
Parry by e-mail at bparry@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
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