16 The Queens Courier • february 6, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com A win for Gifted & Talented students BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com Local leaders are hailing the city’s decision to allow all District 26 elementary school students enrolled in Gifted & Talented (G&T) programs to be grandfathered into middle school programs. “There is no more important issue in our community than the education of our students,” said Assemblymember Nily Rozic. “The new policy reflects the children and parents in District 26 and will allow families to focus on getting their children off to a strong start in middle school.” Parents were outraged when they learned students would no longer be automatically accepted into their local middle school G&T programs. Fifth grade students would have to submit applications and seek admission to middle school G&T programs based on their fourth grade New York State ELA and math scores, the Department of Education (DOE) previously said. More than 750 people signed an online petition, protesting the abrupt change. “The Gifted and Talented programs in our schools are vitally important to the education of our students,” said Congressmember Grace Meng. “After listening closely to the needs of parents, the community, and elected officials, I applaud the Department of Education for its decision to add more G&T seats in District 26, as well as allow current students through fifth grade to remain in the program.” According to Councilmember Mark Weprin, the DOE will also create more middle school G&T programs for high-performing general education students. “With the opening of additional classes for incoming students who qualify for the program, the agreement is good news for parents across the district,” he said. More middle school seats in western Queens BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Education in Long Island City is getting a muchneeded expansion. The Growing Up Green Charter School, located at 39-27 28th Street, will officially be a middle school by 2015. In September, the facility will welcome 6th graders in a new building, and the following year, will grow to include the 8th grade, bringing a brand new middle school to the area and District 30. “I am very, very excited,” said Matthew Greenberg, principal of the Growing Up Green Charter School. “I think that District 30 needs an additional solid middle school that will give parents additional choices for their children.” The new school, which is slated to open in September, will be located close to the 28th Street location, but a building is yet to be determined, said Greenberg. The school is expected to accommodate about 90 students in the upcoming 6th grade class, and a total of about 270 students by 2015. “As more and more New Yorkers come to western Queens to raise their families, having enough classroom seats to provide a good education is essential,” said Senator Michael Gianaris. “Our schools are already stretched too thin, which is why I am pleased with the addition of a middle school at a successful institution like Growing Up Green, and why I will continue fighting to guarantee educational resources in western Queens keep up with development.” Growing Up Green Charter School is an independent public charter school founded in 2009, Photo Courtesy of Educational Network which focuses on empowering students “to be conscious, contributing members of their community through a rigorous curriculum and engaging in green culture.” There will be two open houses for those interested in applying to the new middle school. 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