Admissions, from G&T kindergarten to high school
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The Times, the News and the Post all cover the 45 percent rise in students who qualified for kindergarten gifted & talented programs — but none cite the clash between the numbers of citywide-eligible students and the quantity of available seats. With more than 1300 qualifying children and fewer than 300 seats, we’re eager to hear how Department of Education will address the shortfall.
Meanwhile, eighth-graders shut out of the high-school admissions process went through a second, supplemental round this spring, with decidedly mixed outcomes. The difficulties in high-school placement are by no means confined to ‘difficult’ students. Kolodner quotes solid B students who didn’t get matched with the schools they wanted, as well as a student who scored in the top two percent on seventh-grade standardized tests yet was closed out of all six of her first-round choices.
Parents struggle to explain (and to understand) mismatched placements; one refrain we hear often asks how parents can encourage their children to work hard because their efforts will be recognized and rewarded, while the ‘choice’ process continues to exclude, and alienate, thousands of families.
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There are now 1300 children eligible for 300 G & T spots. Last year there were 1000 eligible for a similar number of spots (?). This situation isn’t new. It’s just worse; and was predictable.
Comment by Joe — May 5, 2009 @ 4:12 pm