Even more G&T numbers: District 2 has most children qualifying
Yoav Gonen has a short piece in today's Post with more details on the numbers of students applying and qualifying for G&T classes for the fall. His numbers (which vary from those reported in the Times yesterday) show that District 2 will likely see several new G&T programs this fall; it had the most students qualifying, at 517, but currently there are only five district G&T programs.
In addition, the Post's graphic showing the districts with the most and fewest children qualifying points out vast disparities. In District 2, 28 percent of applicants tested at the 90th percentile or higher; in District 3, the percentage was even higher, at 30 percent. But in District 23 in Brooklyn, only 3 percent of students tested reached the cutoff for inclusion.
Gonen writes that three districts won't have their own G&T kindergartens this fall, and eight districts will likely have only one G&T program. The DOE says equal access to testing is a move toward greater equity in G&T enrollment, but the numbers appear to say that equal access to testing may actually heighten inequities — and that, as we all expected, socioeconomic status and access to test prep continue to be key determinants for G&T admission.
5 comments:
How do parents find out about how many students per district have qualified? If a parent finds that the NYC tests scores their child differently than an independent test administered - how can they go about challenging the results.
Can someone provide the full listing of qualifying children by district? Thanks.
What I can't understand is why some distrcts are allowed to offer G&T starting in Kindergarten, and some offer it beginning in 1st Grade. If they're revamping this program, where is the continuity? As a parent of a child hopefully entering the G&T program, I believe it should start in Kindergarten - right at the start of their school careers. I am concerned since Dist. 25 doesn't seem to start until 1st grade, and my child is going to be bored to death in a regular Kindergarten, and then have to switch schools after already having made friendships. Almost seems like a punishment for being bright...
I too find it troublesome that some districts don't have entry to the G&T program until grade 1. While I'm less concerned about boredom of the brightest, I am concerned about the unnecessary stress that these districts place on their youngest students. Children from these districts test at 4 yrs old for the G&T program on the chance that they may qualify for a city-wide program beginning in K; if their score doesn't meet the city wide eligibility, or if it does but they don't get a place, they not only have to deal with the stress of transition from a pre-K to a public kindergarten but also have to re-take the test the following year, and if successful, transition yet again to another school. I think that's a lot to ask of a child between the ages of 4 and 6.
What is the difference between regular K and G&T K? Isn't it the same curriculum?
And with all there is to learn upon attending a new school -- new friends, new rules, new teacher, new toys, new building, new schedule... how bored can the "bright" really be? It is K, after all?
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