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Fighting to save ‘gifted & talented’
Northeast Queens lawmakers press for greater diversity in public education program
City’s Gifted and Talented
Program allows for children
who benefit from an accelerated
learning experience
an opportunity to be challenged
in the classroom.
“This legislation would
increase diversity throughout
the Gifted and Talented
Program and include
more students from underrepresented
populations,”
Stavisky said. “This bill
would ensure any child
with the ability to excel
has the opportunity to
f lourish and reach their
full potential.”
In 2015, the School Board
of Broward County in Florida
issued a report that explained
the results of testing
each child in the second
grade and they found hundreds
of additional students
who qualified — 84 percent
of the students came
from under-represented
populations.
Broward County saw
an increase of 180 percent
amongst disadvantaged
students including, English
language learners and those
who qualify for free lunch.
There was an increase of
130 percent amongst Hispanic
students and an 80
percent increase of African
American students.
The Assemblywoman
and Senator sent a letter to
the Mayor de Blasio earlier
this week to demonstrate
their support of the Gifted
and Talented Program.
Stavisky also announced
an online petition on her
website for parents to show
their support for the gifted
and talented legislation.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by email
at cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4526.
REMEMBERING THE HEROES OF 9/11
Vol. 28 No. 37 48 total pages
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
On the first day of school
at the East West High School
of International Studies in
Flushing, two Queens lawmakers
announced legislation
that would boost diversity
throughout the Gifted
and Talented Program in
New York City.
Senator Toby Stavisky
and Assemblywoman Nily
Rozic introduced the bill,
S3542/A2240, that would require
all students, prior to
the third grade, be screened
for Gifted and Talented Programs,
unless the parent or
guardian opts out.
“With the start of the
new school year, our school
system should take this opportunity
to broaden the
gateways for students and
ensure that all New Yorkers
have access to the educational
services they deserve,”
Rozic said during a
Sept. 5 press conference.
The purpose of the legislation
is to ensure that all
students are screened and
benefit from the resources
offered by their school districts.
Earlier this year, the
Independent Budget Office
estimated it would cost the
city $3.8 million to test every
student from Pre-K to
second grade.
Stavisky said New York
Officers from the 109th Precinct hold a moment of silence in Flushing on Wednesday, Sept.
11 honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and
United Airlines Flight 93 that occurred 18 years ago that morning.
Photo via Twitter/@NYPD109Pct
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky speaks during a Sept. 5 press conference
on a bill aiming to diversify the city’s Gifted and Talented
Program. Photo courtesy of Stavisky’s offi ce
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