New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday revealed that New York City’s controversial Gifted and Talented program for elementary schoolers will grow by roughly 1,000 seats — but will no longer use a test for
preschoolers to determine admission.
The announcement of Adams is a perfect opposite of the plan of former Mayor Bill de Blasio last year to phase out separate “gifted” classes, which have been widely criticized for exacerbating racial and socioeconomic segregation in the country’s largest school district.
Based on Adams’ plan, roughly 2,500 incoming Kindergarteners will be admitted to the gifted program next year, increasing about 100 from this year.
Like in 2021, Pre-K students will be admitted based on teacher recommendations and then enter a lottery.
Adams had also ruled not to bring back the polarizing gifted entrance exam, which, before last year, was the sole entrance requirement for 4-year-olds seeking a spot.
“We have gifted and talented students all over the city, there’s no reason these programs weren’t all over the city,” Adams said.
“Today’s announcement is about expanding equity. The chancellor has stated repeatedly, ” Let’s expand the things that work, and it’s about reaching every child in NYC,” Adams added.
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