Testing, testing, (K) 1, 2, 3
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Hundreds of parents lined up at PS 58 last night in Brooklyn for information on gifted and talented programs. Info booklets, which were in short supply, describe the application and testing process and include a short practice test. They’re available in bulk at local elementary schools and at borough enrollment centers, and they are posted on line here – minus the sample test.
Anna Commitante, head of gifted and talented at the DOE, walked parents through the basic process and took questions on testing and placement. (The PowerPoint graphics used to support her talk will be posted after November 6th, according to Commitante.) None of the questions raised had to do with the issues most recently in the press – fewer kids in g+t, less diversity, scaled-back outer-borough programs. Instead, most focused on the process going forward.
First and foremost, the deadline for Requests for Testing (in the booklets and also on line) is November 19th. “We won’t accept it on the 20th,” Commitante said. She urged parents to physically walk the request for testing into their child’s elementary school or a borough enrollment center, citing “many problems last year” with mail delivery.
Testing will take place in January and February at local schools. Four-year-olds, born in 2004, will test individually, with a tester “bubbling in” the answer sheet. Five-year-olds, though, will test in groups of five, with one teacher. Kids are expected to bubble in their own answer sheets (a fine-motor challenge that’s a test in itself for some kids), and they’re not permitted to ask questions during the test. Essentially, the tester reads each item aloud once and the children respond; no questions, no do-overs, no exceptions.
Children who score at the 90th percentile or above are guaranteed seats in a district g+t program, provided ALL district programs are listed on the child’s application. For citywide programs — including the two new programs planned for Brooklyn and Queens — children must score at or above the 97th percentile, and there are NO guarantees of citywide placement, even for high-scorers. There is no sibling preference in place, either, unlike general-education programs at local schools. Test scores determine eligibility, and the order in which schools are ranked on your child’s application determines placement.
All students who score at or above the 90th percentile are guaranteed seats in Kindergarten and first grade, Commitante said. If a surfeit of students qualify, the DOE will open new g+t programs to accommodate them; no inter-district enrollment will be permitted. Openings in grade 2 and beyond are scarce and sporadic; again, no guarantees.
There are also no wait lists. “We run this match one time only,” she said. “All offers are final.”
Watch the blog for an update (and answers to specific questions) later this morning.
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Dear Helen,
According to the G&T Handbook, there is sibling preference.
You state above that there is no sibling preference. Please see below. This is how it worked last year as well.
If my child is eligible, how will placement be determined?
Placement is based on meeting qualification cut-offs, sibling priority, family preferences (ranked
program choices) and remaining available seats.
For entrance into a district G&T program, students must score at the 90th percentile or above. For
entrance into the citywide programs, students must score at the 97th percentile or above.
All younger siblings who make the qualification cut-offs (90th percentile or above for district programs
and 97th percentile or above for citywide programs) will receive placements at the older sibling’s
school, as long as:
there are enough seats for all eligible sibling applicants (there may be more eligible siblings
than available seats),
the older sibling is presently in grades K-4,
and the applicant lists the sibling’s school as his or her first choice.
After siblings are placed, all other eligible applicants will be rank-ordered from highest percentile to lowest
eligible percentile. Students will only be placed in schools that have declared they have available seats.
Comment by Robin Aronow — October 31, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Robin quotes correctly from the handbook, but comments made by Anna Commitantee last night — to the effect that there was no sibling preference for G+T placements in district and/or citywide programs — seems to contradict the handbook.
Have just sent the question over to DOE for a response, and will post as soon as they reply. Thanks, Helen
Comment by Helen — October 31, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
What types of colors and shapes are the 4 year olds being tested on? Do they need to know 3 dimensional shapes (cone, cube)? Do they need to know octagon, hexagon? How far beyond the basic colors are they looking for? Thanks?
Comment by Naomi — November 1, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Naomi: just let your child take the test. Since this is a school ability/IQ test it does not matter what they test for. Step back and let your child handle it.
Comment by Clemens — November 3, 2008 @ 11:53 am
I can not find any information about the test for children already in the gifted program. My son is in 5th grade and is no longer grandfathered into the program. On top of the other tests he has to take (Social Studies, ELA) he now has this test (unfairly changed in the middle of the school year - in my opinion) to see if he will move forward into the TAG program for middle school. Any info on this subject? Thanks.
Comment by Christine — November 24, 2008 @ 3:58 pm