G & T check-in: Letters and registration
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It’s the last week of school, but the questions and concerns swirling around gifted and talented program placements continue, as the hundreds of comments responding to the previous G&T post attest.
In hopes of getting answers to some of the questions that have been raised, we’d like to hear from readers who have not yet received news of their child’s placement — as of yesterday, at least some families hadn’t yet had word — and from those who’ve had difficulty registering their children for G&T district programs.
We are gathering questions this morning for the Department of Education; please let us know your concerns.
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I have not yet received paper mail package or email. I applied both online and by paper because the online system did not give me district options(we moved after the exam).
Also I have questions about the criteria setting and fairness. My son did great as a 99 percentile child and was not given our first choice of Anderson.
First, it’s too easy to be a 99 percentile child, because the criteria is set to be too low. I have evidence for it. In my son’s preschool, 4 children were scored 99 percentile. My son lost 1 point in OLSAT verbal part and 3 points in reasoning part. The teachers collected their reports and noticed that the other three 99 percentile kids lost much more points. 99% should not be that easy to get. A more strict criteria could have been set and it’s not that hard since the test result is readily available. As I read, there is huge difference between kids scored 99.0% and 99.9%.
Second, DOE could have used PERCENTAGE instead of PERCENTILE to limit the number of eligible kids. By calculation, 2 percent of all NYC exam-taking kids are eligible for citywide program, then lottery drawing is not necessary(2 percent of all takers is roughly 270). Lottery means luck, rather than fairness. Sometimes it is not luck but pain for some kids who cannot quite keep up with the class at higher grades and struggle.
Third, nobody knows how the computer system was setup to do the lottery. What are the parameters? Who can prove the transparency? Is there public notary involved? Parents in dark are just given a final result. Is it fair?
Comment by Queen Mom — June 23, 2009 @ 9:39 am
Just curious how the “independent contractor” made the school selections. Most of the parents I spoke to who have received an email say they got their 4th choice.
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 9:44 am
I have not yet received placement from DOE. But we ranked our child’s local school as #1 and I asked in the school’s office today if name was on list. Had it whispered to me, yes. I asked do I need to do anything and as child is already registered, they said no. All this fanfare and I don’t have to do anything to officially accept the placement? I find that odd.
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 10:09 am
Re #2: siblings jumping to the front of the queue does make a difference in filling up classes and also if you look at #1, it’s true…there are far more 99s out there than people realize. If child does not get 97+, chances of getting into your top 2 schools are slim, I believe.
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 10:12 am
our first choice was anderson, our second — lower lab. we didn’t even have a third choice, since our zoned school is very good (ps 290) and everything else didn’t seem worth the commute. our daughter scored 99. i applied online and got the email informing us she did indeed get into anderson at 1:20 am on saturday morning. now the polka with registration starts since we are actually in europe now (as you remember, originally the results were supposed to be distributed much earlier and we planned our trip around it) and can’t really present the child at the school. we are awaiting a response from the DOE regarding the next steps. i honestly hope they won’t tell us to catch the next flight back to nyc, but one never knows…
Comment by rose — June 23, 2009 @ 10:13 am
#5: I also have a friend in Europe and hope she’s at least received the email! I’ve sent her and her husband an email hoping they see it and can at least call. But this is for our local school’s program, not Anderson…but still a position the family wants.
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 10:16 am
#1: The OLSAT craps out in the upper end of the scale and thus the results are very fuzzy. That said, though, a 99 is just that. The child is in the top 1% performers through the entire country. NYC children have always been testing very well. There is nothing you can do about it. I think the score should just represent the threshold of what a child is eligible to. Once the cut-off is reached all placements should be done randomly. 97-99 all should have the same chances to get into a city-wide and not just kids who scored a 99.
Comment by anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 11:17 am
A random lottery is the fairest way to place the children.
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 11:19 am
#5: With the way the DOE operates (very poorly), I would think it would be worth it to you to fly back from Europe for a day or two to make sure your child gets registered at Anderson. Compare the cost of airfare to the $30,000+ a year a private school would cost (comparable education).
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 11:32 am
Anderson parent - contact Donna Smiley at Anderson asap and explain the situation.
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 11:47 am
this is #5. thanks for the suggestions. flying back home is pretty much out of the question. we are actually in eastern europe, no direct flights, and since i already put two small kids through a 20 hr journey once this week, i can’t do it again. we all are still recovering from it. my husband who stayed in nyc is in touch with donna smiley and she is being very helpful. it looks like that because the child was registered at another public school (gen ed) in nyc, this is going to be enough, and they can wait to see her in person until we are back. and i am sorry that donna had to deal with all this because it was naturally the DOE that put us in this situation and they should be the ones to help us out, but i am not a naive two-year-old and so am not counting on it. so i guess if anybody is in a similar situation and did pre-register at another public school, it might be a good starting point to start registration at the G&T program now.
Comment by rose — June 23, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
Hi i like to know if i have any chance to change my gilr the school they gave to her, she pass with 98 score and i didnt put THE TAG SCHOOL MY OPTION, i leave in queens and how i will bring my daughter there everyday if they dont have bus to queens, i really need to work and i’m single mother i dont have any help, please i need what can i do to even try to put her is at the school in queens.
thanks
Comment by Elisandra — June 23, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
With the loss of the PS 20 program and a class at BSI, many of the
first grade G+T children in Brooklyn are unable to attend a program
this fall. We are hoping that the DOE will reconsider their closure of the second 1st grade class at BSI. We have started a google group for city-wide first grade parents who did not get a placement anywhere and would still like to attend BSI. We are hoping to generate enough interest that the DOE will reconsider. To join please email: another-first-grade-at-bsi@googlegroups.com Thank you.
Comment by mommk — June 23, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
My child is accepted to a district GT program, how can I apply school bus for her? Where do I begin? The school told me to call OPT, then OPT representative told me to call the school to apply, who is right??? Can anyone help?
Comment by anon — June 23, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
#14: The school is supposed to handle it.
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 4:02 pm
My son was in the 99% percentile and the D.O.E placed him in his #6 choice and stated that he was placed in his second choice which was a mistake at TWEED so now I am waiting for the D.O.E. and I have not recieved my placement through the mail as of yet I know these results by an angel @ D.O.E. What a disgrace now a human error can cause my son not to have a top rate education. The madness goes on. Can somebody explain to me why there are 3 citywide programs all in Manhattan and the ones in lower Manhattan are mostly white and the one in Harlem is mostly white. This has to make somebody curious about this computer and process. Because before testing the process to get in G&T was politics and the look. What an improvement.
Comment by proud parent — June 23, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
CAN SOMEBODY GIVE ME ANY SUGGESTIONS I NEED HELP FIGHTING TWEED TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE
Comment by proud parent — June 23, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
We have started a google group for 1st grade parents who were
shut out of BSI. If we get enough families I thought we might be able to
make some noise and get the DOE to reconsider. Interested? address to
join: http://groups.google.com/group/another-first-grade-at-bsi
Comment by yelena — June 23, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
My friend’s daught got 2nd choice NEST+M which is behind Anderson, haven’t heard of any 99s who ranked nest first not getting in
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
post #16
… and the ones in lower Manhattan are mostly white and the one in Harlem is mostly white…..
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/nyregion/30gifted.html?pagewanted=2
Comment by Anonymous — June 23, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
My daughter’s applicationn was submited in full, on time, online, and yet we have received no email, no letter, no placement. In fact, the DOE can’t seem to find her at all in the system. I have spoken to Anna Commitante, Michael Adin, Angela Hargraves, Kim Cobb, SEMS and anyone else I can get a hold of. Everyone is “looking into it”. I have the receipt showing we submitted on time but it makes no difference. She is presently not registered ahywhere for September, G&T or otherwise and I have no idea what to do.
Comment by K&K's mom — June 23, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
#20 check your stats only 3 citywide programs are in effect now nest, anderson and tag and check stats use this same website
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 7:20 am
SOMEONE GET ME OFF THIS HORRIBLE ROLLERCOSTER!!! D.0.E. has been driving me crazy. 1st they lost my daughters contact info.(actually everyones info, that took the test from her school) So, everday every passing parent is questioning one another ” Did you haer anything yet?” On June 5th we obtained a contact number and I spoke with Michael Adin who congratulated me on my daughter qualifing for the G&T. He instructed me to fax my application ASAP as June 10th was the deadline. I was told acceptance letters would be sent by June 15th. Well, I’m now being told that acceptance letters for her grade will not be sent until July 3!!! My daughter is not registered for any school for the fall. We are anxiously waiting for a response before implimenting plan B. The stess is weighing us down
Comment by distressed in Queens — June 24, 2009 @ 10:03 am
#23, what grade is your child going to in Sept.? And which district? We are in D28 in Queens and most parents I know have received email notices.
Comment by Anon — June 24, 2009 @ 11:29 am
Can someone tell me if a G&T child in Grade 3 and onwards will continue to have yellow bus service? This is important to know because if I put my G&T child in a school that needs school bus transportation now, will they continue to bus her at Grade 3 and onwards? We live more than half a mile but less than a mile which qualifies for yellow bus but happens when she is in Grade 3 G&T?
Comment by TC — June 24, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
If you live is district 10 in the Bronx (Kingsbridge/Riverdale), please particpate in the poll listed below. Our local parent group is trying to identify where local parents are deciding to send their G&T eligible children in the hopes of pressuring the DOE to rethink thier policies and program placement.
http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/438670
Comment by Bronx Parent — June 24, 2009 @ 2:42 pm
I sympathize with all the parents here! This G&T process was tough. My child did not score well on the OLSAT but did far better on other tests. Common story, I hear. I went down to the DOE to review my child’s test just to see…wanted to have a better sense of what she didn’t do well on. The DOE person there, as expected, was abrupt and couldn’t care less about me as a parent. Any question I asked seemed like a bother to her. I just kept thinking, “What am I in for here? Do I really want to deal with them for the next however many years?!” And at the end of 20 minutes given to me to “review” the DOE person says “Good luck - you’ll need it.” Boy, I think she was right!
Comment by MR — June 24, 2009 @ 2:46 pm
RE: #26. I will…something is certainly suspect about the makeup of the class. I hear only 10 PS 24 students will be in the first-grade class, when 29 students qualified for the program…is this class made up of all 99% children? Most of the children taking the test in District 10 are from PS 24, the most who qualify are from 24, but they are not getting seats? PS 7, no way … and there’s no other option here for us. I think the DOE has short-changed PS 24.
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 3:44 pm
This has been the most nerve wrecking process I have ever been through. I hope the D.O.E is taking pride in putting hard working,caring, no for an answer parents on a rollercoater ride. I wish I had money to send my child to a good private school or live in District #3 where all the schools and G&T.
Comment by proud parent — June 24, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
THIS IS A JOKE THE MAYOR NEEDS SOME CHECK AND BALANCES
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
My child did get into the program we were hoping for and I’m still going to go to the Mike for Mayor office around the corner and tell them what a charade this whole process is.
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
Of course the DOE has short-changed Riverdale. They short-changed Riverdale, even before G&T “reform” was an issue, by not recognizing demographic trends and creating seats to accommodate the waves of families moving into the neighborhood. That ship has sailed. They messed up big-time and it’ll take the construction of a third neighborhood school to fix it.
But what I’m waiting to hear from the parents who won’t send their kid to the G&T program down the hill is how they’d propose solving the problem in the *short term*? Is it to restrict the District 10 G&T program at 24 to kids zoned for 24 and 81? Does it involve removing zoned gen-ed kids to make room for a second G&T class? What is your desired remedy for this upcoming school year?
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
re: #32. As a Riverdale parent, I am completely frustrated with the process and the arrogance of the DOE. I feel like this is a black mark against the neighborhood … people moving in will discover that the DOE, and hence the city, do not take our issues seriously.
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
Everyone can think their scores, alone, are what determine what gets your child into a particular g&t class…i’m starting to think there are other forces at hand, too. perhaps demographics? the very things the “scores-only” process was supposed to stop.
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
I too have been offered a school I did not rank, that is not in my district, that I found out today is oversubscribed 2:1 and has never actually taken anyone from my district before. And my son scored 99. What can we do?
Comment by Anon — June 24, 2009 @ 5:36 pm
this year’s screw ups seem worse than ever, i thought this was the year they were to work out all the kinks?
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
does anyone know how many children took the exam this year? how is it possible that approximately 400 scored in the 99th percentile? this would imply that 40,000 children took the exam. Or do i not understand the scoring mechanism properly?
Comment by anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
#19-I thought that the lottery functioned as follows: The 99s are assigned random numbers. Then they pick a number. When the number is picked, the DOE (or whoever is actually handling the lottery) then looks at that child’s 1st choice. If there are still spots at the school selected as 1st choice, he/she gets it. If not, they move to the child’s 2nd choice, and down the line, until the child gets a spot. Then they move on to the next 99.
After all 99s are done, then they move to the 99s.
Can anyone confirm if this is actually how it is done?
If that IS how its done, then it shouldn’t matter whether you selected NEST 1st or 2nd. If I selected NEST 1st, and my child’s number wasn’t picked in the first 175 spots, he would not receive a spot.
That’s how lame this whole process is.
Comment by Brooklyn Parent — June 24, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
#21 - The exact same thing happened to me with pre-k applications! They can’t seem to find any record, even though I have the electronic receipt and my daughter has still not received placement (notification date had been May 22nd). Hang in there and good luck!!!!
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
#27: from the sound of your message I am very sure you did not come across as nice and polite at the test review either. Anyway, if you need niceties and politeness and hand-holding public school is not for your family.
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
#16 Children at G& T mostly white because I saw their mostly white parents during the Test time at the waiting room in January, even though the test took place in the Lower East Side, with plenty of others groups. Everyone had a right to take a test - it was free and very public event. I was very much surprised myself, not to see any other groups at the waiting room, but white parents. And now, somehow they should made feel guilty again, and blamed for nothing.
Comment by anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
I applied school bus for my daughter, she got into a district GT program and entering grade K this fall, the secretary entered our address and said she can’t get the service. We live around 2 miles away from the school and in the same district as the school, the school provides bus service, and she is a kindergartener. I checked the OPT eligibility guideline, and she falls within the fullfare box meaning she is eligible for school bus. Anyone can explain that?
Comment by anon — June 24, 2009 @ 9:24 pm
THIS IS DOE AND BLOOMBERG’S WAY TO GET ALL HIS RICH FRIENDS A FREE EDUCATION IF U BLACK AND GIFTED YOU GO TO TAG IF YOU WHITE AND GIFTED YOU GO TO ANDERSON LOWER LAB NEST OR ANY DISTRICT #3 TALENTED AND GIFTED. SO LET’S BUS KIDS AROUND THE CITY TO MAKE THESE SCHOOLS COMPLY WITH BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION. I AM TIRED OF THE RACIAL DISPARITY IN GOOD SCHOOLS. WHERE IS AL SHARPTON WHEN U NEED HIM. IF THIS YEARS STATS SHOW THAT ANDERSON AND NEST ACCEPTED MOSTLY WHITE STUDENTS THEN IT IS A FACT THAT THE COMPUTER IS KEEPING A HOLD FOR AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION FOR ONLY WHITE STUDENTS. JOEL KLEIN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF BY THINKING THIS PROCESS WAS GOING TO GIVE ETHNIC CHILDREN A FAIR CHANCE. NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL ME THAT NOT ENOUGH ETHNIC CHILDREN DID NOT SCORE IN THE 99% PERCENTILE. I WILL FIGHT UNTIL I RECEIVE A JUSTIFIED ANSWER TO WHY ALL BLACK TALENTED AND GIFTED KIDS ARE ONLY PLACED AT TAG. THE HISTORY OF G&T HAS BEEN TAINTED SINCE THE BEGINNING WHERE INTERVIEWS WERE THE CRITERIA FOR ENTRANCE INTO THESE PROGRAMS. WHAT THIS MEANS IF YOU ARE POOR YOUR CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE A POOR EDUCATION. I FEEL LIKE CRYING BECAUSE THIS PROCESS IS NOT FAIR. PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE JUST SEE THE FACTS. IF A DISTRICT #3 CHILD DOES NOT GET INTO ANDERSON OR NEST HE WILL GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR 30-35K A YEAR WHAT TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. OBAMA WHERE U AT? BUT THEN AGAIN HE HAS A WHITE MOTHER. I AM NOT RACIST ALL I WANT FOR MY SON IS A EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND WHITE CHILDREN DON’T HAVE THE SAME OBSTACLES AS ETHNIC CHILDREN. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A GOOD EDUCATION FOR MY SON SINCE HEAD START WHERE I COULD NOT AFFORD A GOOD ONE AND WAS NOT TOO RICH TO RECEIVE FUNDING. IF ANYBODY COULD HELP PLEASE DO. I NEED GOOD HELP BECAUSE I DON’T UNDERSTAND. I AM LOOKING AT MY SON AND I THINK I FAILED HIM EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS AND D.O.E IS RESERVING IT FOR UPPER MIDDLE CLASS WHITE FAMILIES. I GUESS HIS BROTHER WILL HAVE TO GO TO TAG ALSO BECAUSE HE IS BLACK AND SIBLING PREFERENCE WILL ON ONLY KEEP THE WHITE SCHOOLS WHITER AND THE BLACK SCHOOLS ?????????????????????????????????????????
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 9:45 pm
#43…okay, understand raw feelings, but can you take out the emotion for a moment and say what happened…did son not get in? what percentage? what schools did you prioritize and where did he place? i know many families of all races and other demographic identifiers who did not get in a program. the lack of minorities taking the test and actually getting a place in a school has been well documented in the past. your son is not alone. he is not the only one. this new testing system, in fact, is in place because al sharpton did speak up and asked for things to be about numbers only, no interviews, etc. can you just give what happened.
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 9:55 pm
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT DOE MADE A MISTAKE WITH MY CHOICES I PICKED ON MY APPLICATION AND WHEN I CALLED EVERYBODY AT TWEED ALL THEY COULD DO IS OFFER ME TAG WHY TAG GETS OFFERED. IF NO MISTAKE AND I GOT NO PLACEMENT I WILL NOT HAVE A PROBLEM MY PROBLEM IS THAT WHY TAG AND NOT NEST MY SECOND CHOICE WHEN ACCORDING TO STATS TAG IS MORE OVERCROWDED THAN NEST I JUST BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE MY SON IS BLACK HE GOES WHERE THE TALENTED BLACKS ARE
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Well, I think they feel more confident offering TAG, which is why it was done. Can you ask them to go down your priority list and check each school before just automatically going to TAG. I think that sounds fair. And you need to call your City Council office and get them involved. (Council member Jackson, FYI is very tuned to keeping an eye on how many minorities are placed in the G&T system, I’d call his office, too.) Keep in mind there are reports of errors with siblings at some schools and that could be in play here, too.
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 10:23 pm
#40:
There is always someone like you on the boards, huh? Or is it that you work for the DOE, actually??? What you wrote in response to my post is absolutely absurd! What on earth did you read in my post that gave you the impression that I was NOT polite, respectful and professional to the DOE employee??? This entire past year, I have been nothing but accommodating and patient in this whole process - along with every other NYC parent. I am so happy that I have this website to come to for information and to share my stories along with reading what other people are going through but you know, this cattiness is undeserved. There is no reason to attack other parents. YOU HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING RELEVANT TO WRITE! So, why did you waste our time? Parents should lend hand to other parents not push them down.
You wrote that if I need niceties, politeness and hand-holding, then the public school system is not for my family? How dare you????? I don’t care whether my child goes to public, private or parochial. We are all entitled to some decency especially when we treat others kindly.
I just don’t understand people like you. Why are there people like you????
Good-bye to this board. Good luck everyone.
Comment by MR — June 24, 2009 @ 10:34 pm
#42 I have also been very frustrated by the transportation challenges in the outer boroughs. My child got into a district K program in Queens. We were placed 2.3 miles from our house and as it stands it does not look hopeful that we will get transportation. It is frustrating because every child is owed an appropriate education that meets their needs, yet I how can we take advantage of it if we do not get appropriate transportation. In our zone school there are kids bused from Manhattan to participate in a Special Ed program but OST cannot figure out how to provide transportation for my 5 year old to go 2 miles to a program the district placed him at.
There is one city bus that runs through my area and goes nowhere near the school. My 5 year old would need to take 2 or 3 buses (and travel 45min to 1 hour and travel close to 10 miles) to get to school since I did not have consistent access to a car for transportation. Also by accepting my G&T placement without knowing until September if I have transportation I am forgoing my current placement (a very good gen Ed spot).
Any suggestions on how to advocate would be greatly appreciated
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 11:12 pm
blacks are 7% in nest 8% anderson 59% in tag white are 57% nest 67% anderson 3% in tag nest 71% overcrowded 12% receiving free lunch, anderson 120% overcrowded 6% free lunch tag 109% overcrowded 62% free lunch What is it,not enough children qualify for anderson and nest ?????
Comment by Anonymous — June 24, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
I thank everyone on this form for sharing their stories. I am a parent of a hispanic boy who scored a 99% and did not get into our first choice-Anderson but instead got into TAG. We went to visit the school today and could not even finish the tour because we were disgusted. I was taken back to see how the DOE can have a G&T talented program so disorganized and inferior to the other two city wide G&T program. We decided that we would not put our son through that no matter how G&T the school calls themselves. He will be attending the charter school he got into by lottery. I know he is gifted and talented and doesn’t need a city wide program to prove it. Good luck to those of you waiting for responds and those of you who did get into a program.
Comment by Irina — June 24, 2009 @ 11:17 pm
Response to # 38 about how the lottery is drawn: yes, they take all 99’s and they go through all your options until you get one that is available. So, it doesn’t matter you put Nest first or second if you didn’t get picked up in the first 175 numbers you didn’t get into either of them. So, it is not true that “no student who scored 99 and put Nest as first option didn’t get in”.
My son scored 99 and he didn’t get into any of the options we listed, even when our third option was not a citywide program.
Oh well… I agree that 99 is not really just 1% of the children and there are way too many children for the few spots.
Comment by Marisa — June 25, 2009 @ 12:42 am
To #48, I wonder which district you are in? We are D25, maybe you are right, I should decline the offer and let her go to PS 242 which is a really good Grade K to 3 school that she got in. She will do even better in that school perhaps. The feeling of not knowing whether my child would get bused is frustruated enough.
Comment by anon — June 25, 2009 @ 1:23 am
Post #48 - remember, you PICKED the school as an option for GT. You were matched.
_
Busing : you need at least 10 kids along the way in order for the school/OPT to consider something for your situation.
_
Good luck anyway.
Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 7:14 am
The citywide waitlist is made up of 99s who did not get spots. All lower scores are on the district wide waitlist.Is it possible to get spots at NEST with 98s?
Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 8:06 am
Here it is Thursday and my daughter still hasn’t received a placement email or snail mail. I have left messages (and sent emails) with the main gifted & Talented office and the Brooklyn office and received no call backs. Anyone else in this situation? Anyone know what’s going on?
Comment by jenny — June 25, 2009 @ 8:07 am
As a father I was proud to get the news that my lil one made it into the G&T program.My wife and I live in Riverdale so we knew our options would be good no matter the results. As I read some of your post I just feel your pain and at the same time I feel so prideful. All I can think about is those kids that failed to make the G&T and the parents of those kids searching for answers and looking for some reason “WHY” not my kid. I think we all should take a collective step back and just be thankful for a minute and hung our kids for their first big win of what I hope is a journey of many. These are 4 and 5 year old kids who are coming up in a world where no one knows what the next day will bring; I don’t mean to tell you guys something you all already know but I justwanted to chime in.
Also, iit just me or are you all upset that the DOE lowered the standard? my child scored in the 96 percentile so the top three were not an option but she did get into PS 24 which is a great option that she was not zoned for in a great community.
Just a proud dad. On another note she just “graduated from Pre K and we asked her where she wanted to go to eat and she said Red Lobster LOL i can on imagine what she will want for High School.
Comment by Happy yet still searching — June 25, 2009 @ 8:18 am
People who work for government agencies realize pretty soon that they can be rude and lazy without losing their jobs. They turn into bullies, and do little work. That’s one problem with DOE. Another problem is Affirmative Action at DOE, which puts people into jobs for which they are weakly qualified. Truly qualified workers can cover for them just so much. After a certain number of quota clowns have been forced into an agency, the agency bogs down into uselessness. Members of minority groups who demand Affirmative Action have to go to the DOE also and therefore are forced to deal with this bullying and sloppiness. Affirmative Action has turned around to bite them.
Would you fly on an airline whose motto is “Diversity above all when we hire workers”? That’s the kind of airline the DOE is. And the people who work there keep their jobs no matter how many airplanes crash. And it’s the only airline in town.
Comment by wearied — June 25, 2009 @ 8:47 am
i will love to know how many blacks and hispanics were shunned away from anderson and put into TAG i smell a class action suit
Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 9:13 am
let’s protest at tweed
Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 9:15 am
When is a child actually “admitted” to a school? Is it at pre-registration (that’s now, right?), registration (when’s that?), the first day of school, or some other time? Do we request school bus service now - or when school begins? Thanks.
Comment by anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
#60: as soon as you register your child at the school you are in. The bus is dealt with at school. Ask about it at registration.
Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
I went to register my DD for G&T at P.S. 150 today, and when I asked the office ladies about busing from Jackson Heights to Sunnyside, I was told that nothing would be made available until “after school starts next September.” Apparently, because of the “Chaos in the Capital” (to quote NY1), no one knows who is going to be in change of the NYC public schools. The Mayor loses control this month of the public schools, and as far as I know nothing is in place at the DOE to take the reins.
This is going to leave a LOT of us in a very big mess, come September. While I am so grateful we got a spot, now I am wondering about logistics I was under the impression would be taken care of and put in place long before classes start. To say that the whole business has soured me on NYC and the system as a whole is an understatement.
Comment by anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
I’m confused. Is this about the G&T based on the OLSAT test or the state tests (ELA & Math)?
Comment by A parent — June 25, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
WHAT A DISGRACE THANK YOU INSIDE SCHOOLS AND ALL CARING PARENTS I HAVE BEEN IN TWEED ALL DAY NOBODY HAS ANSWERS BUT I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING IT IS NOT A SECRET POOR PARENTS ARE NOT RESPECTED BY TWEED. WHY THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANDERSON NEST AND TAG. LET’S DO LIKE CHICAGO AND BUS KIDS ALL AROUND THE CITY TO COMPLY WITH BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS BECAUSE OUR STATE SENATORS AND OUR GOVERNOR ARE ALL CLOWNS
Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
BLOOMBERG DO SOMETHING YOU ARE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
#53. Yes I picked the school because it was the best option for my child. My point and issue is that I live in District 25 and as the routes stand now I can only get transportation to my zone school. I am not on any bus route for GT in my own district and anything citywide is a joke. I was jsut voicing that the city should make some consideration to meet the educational needs of all students.
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
#52 We are in District 25. What school was your child placed at?
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — June 25, 2009 @ 7:38 pm
#57…a full-blown racist and proud of it! You are scary! Are your little G&T brats ‘carefully taught’? Pardon me while I take a shower.
Comment by k — June 25, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
#58 re: “class action suit” against Anderson? Do you want it to become a second TAG? Then what are you going to do?
Comment by anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 4:35 am
To 67, she got into her 2nd choice ps32, i went to its office this morning for bus stop choices, the closest stop to my house is 9 blocks away, and she said its Not guaranteed until September, meaning she might not get bused, isnt it strange that we registered and found out that we do not get bused until September. If it isnt for the GT program I would not get myself into this mess.
Comment by anon — June 26, 2009 @ 4:47 am
ANDERSON BEING ANOTHER TAG WHAT DO U MEAN???????
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 6:49 am
ALL CITYWIDE G&T PROGRAMS SHOULD BE EQUAL THERE IS NO SEPARATE BUT EQUAL
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 6:50 am
#72: the assignments were all done blind. All that mattered was the test score of your child and the ranking of the schools. I have no idea what’s racist about this.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 8:24 am
We very luckily got a spot at the school we wanted, although we have had so many problems with this process in the past year and a half that I don’t trust it. Earlier in the week I accepted our spot by email as instructed–I didn’t get any reply. Did anyone else? If not, does this make anyone else besides me nervous?
Good luck to everyone, especially to those who were placed at schools they didn’t select. Keep fighting. Although the DOE never admits to making mistakes and may insist that they won’t change placements, they have changed their minds several times on G&T issues in the past year, so don’t give up.
Comment by anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 9:08 am
#74 - no email reply here either, but the school had us on their list and we registered successfully.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 9:15 am
To #43: I’m not 100% sure that there is a great conspiracy with the placements (i.e. more Black and Latino students at TAG), though I definitely feel your frustration. The reality of the city is that most NYC neighborhoods have been racially and economically segregated, something which has gradually been changing over the past 10 years, but remains a significant problem in the schools. TAG is in a neighborhood well populated by kids of color. Anderson is not. I cannot say re: Nest, don’t know that area as well.
Personally, I would not have chosen TAG for my son (we are Black) because I didn’t like their very rigid, “traditional” approach to education (son tested there several years ago). However, culturally, many Black families prefer a more traditional approach, hence the school’s appeal to some African Americans.
The issue then becomes sorting out how many White families are possibly avoiding TAG because of its approach to education vs. those who are driven by racial prejudice vs. those who simply want an excellent school closer to home.
Comment by Bronx mom — June 26, 2009 @ 10:15 am
To #72. I really like 32, my only fustration is transportation. I was told to keep advocating for transportion. If enough parents advocate then we may have some luck. See you in september
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 10:36 am
#76 - Very well said. The main arguments against most conspiracy theories apply here too. They would be hard to implement, and even harder to keep quiet. The DOE is just too incompetent to have a team of people going through applications sorting kids into g&t programs by ethnicity and then have no insider blow the whistle. Random is the easiest way to do it - we’re hardwired to see patterns in numbers/statistics but we aren’t necessarily hardwired to determine the underlying reasons, and sometimes we don’t even want to admit those reasons to ourselves.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 11:30 am
I just don’t understand because every kid in Tag will love to be in Anderson but not vice versa Anderson principal just quit I wonder why. Maybe he has answers. This city has more than 7% high achieving black or latino students. I am trying to get as much info possible to research this disparity in diversity in both Anderson and Nest remember one thing these are Citywide programs these are not District programs
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
and anderson has a 1 million dollar annual pta budget
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 1:24 pm
I registered at a non GT school, then registered at a GT school, will the non GT school know that I registered at another school?
Comment by anon — June 26, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
#81 - you should call the non G&T school and let them know. There are many children waitlisted who are waiting for spots at non G&T schools.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
My son will be in the first-grade G&T class at PS 24. The school’s G&T has grown from two classes to four and I wish there was some sort of official welcome. Being that the G&T topic is very controversial (and polarizing and disappointing) in Riverdale, it would have been nice for the families to meet one another and celebrate it, or even talk about it, as the topic and your entrance is one that is whispered, not really able to be talked about.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
To 81: Technically, you should call your non GT school and let them know that you have registered elsewhere so that they are not holding a spot for you.
Comment by Mary Ann — June 26, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
#79 - there are a lot of kids of all ethnic backgrounds who would like to be at Anderson but are not. The only way to get into Anderson is for your child to score 99 AND for you to list it as first choice (since it is the first school which exhausts its places). The only way to test a hypothesis that the selection process itself is biased would be as follows.
1. Determine how many kids who scored 99 AND listed Anderson as first choice. Determine how many of these were offered places. Work out percentage.
2. Determine who many Black/Latino kids scored 99 AND listed Anderson as first choice. Determine how many of these were offered places. Work out percentage.
3. Compare percentages. If they are very significantly then there is a problem.
There are many reasons (many not admirable) why their demographics might be skewed that have nothing to do with the selection process itself. Location, test prep in private preschool etc
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
^^ very significantly *different*
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
u going tell me not enough ethnic kids scored 99 and did not put anderson first. When the D.O.E releases these stats it will be known. And after a generation of interviewing parents for placement ethnic kids should get a better chance if they quailfy. Look at classrooms at TAG and at Anderson it is like night and day only 20 blocks from each other.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 4:38 pm
my 99% child will excell anywhere it is just sad that more resources are provided for different ethnic backrounds in a public school. Now it is time to give TAG all those same resources $$$$$$
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
Re:87
White middle class people simply don’t even think about TAG, that is the TAG is never an option. Very possible that Blacks are much more open to TAG, and therefore select TAG as an option - I was open to TAG too, since it is so close to the Upper East Side, but after the visit there, and after being accused in racism just by not being black by the school representative, naturally, I chose not to place my child there.
Comment by anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 6:31 pm
#87 - I’m saying that a small number of ethnic kids at Anderson doesn’t prove or even imply that the selection process is fixed. I think it’s more likely that the difference between TAG and Anderson is because white families won’t go to TAG not because ethnic families are kept out of Anderson. Would need to know how many TAG kids scored 99 AND listed Anderson first - 97’s and 98’s are irrelevant to the discussion.
Comment by Anonymous — June 26, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
#67 - My son also got into her 2nd choice p.s.32 and we had same school bus problem.my son so sad when i tell him i decline the g & t school placement.
Comment by Terrymom — June 28, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
#91 I am sorry to hear that. I am going to continue to advocate for transportation for my child as well as looking into other options. The school seemed willing ot work with us so I am keeping my fingers crossed that come September it will all work out. Worse case scenerio if things do not work out I was told that my zone school should be an option.
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — June 28, 2009 @ 11:09 pm
#92-GOOD LUCK.Please let me know u final option on this blog.
Comment by Terrymom — June 29, 2009 @ 10:31 am
im accepting ps 32 offer dispite the far location of bus stop. and hopefully they will create a new bus stop near our house so we don’t have to walk 9 blocks to bus stop. I’m willing to walk the distance if it means giving my child better education. Our zoned school is totally not an option because the educational quality is nowhere in comparison to ps32.
Comment by anon — June 29, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
#94-Can u tell me what is the zone school code no.
Comment by Terrymom — June 29, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
our zone school is ps 120
Comment by anon — June 30, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
#93. Thanks I will let you know. I do not suspect to hear anything until september especially with the current mess in Albany.
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — June 30, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
#96-Thanks to tell me.
Comment by Terrymom — July 1, 2009 @ 9:20 am
#96- i’m a new immigrate ,i don’t know which school is good,could u tell me ?
Comment by Terrymom — July 1, 2009 @ 10:02 am
i choose only 3 schools for my daughter. she got a 97 on her test. she wasnt placed at any school. and is on a waiting list. i now know that i was supposed to choose all district 2 schools in order to garauntee a spot for my child. i feel terrible. but we have a school 2 blocks away from us that i put down as my first choice and honestly just assumed she would get it since it was so close. whats the point of busing in kids from other neighborhoods. i think that kids should be placed at their local g and t school first. the people at the g and t office or so rude and talk down to people. anyone else on a waiting list? if so what were the circumstances in your case. this whole process is so heart wrenching. look at all of us moms so upset. its so wrong.
Comment by momof3 — July 1, 2009 @ 12:00 pm
#99 If you are in queens your their may be a few options depending on transportation. Where do you live? What are you considering and I may able to help since you are zoned for 25.
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — July 1, 2009 @ 12:46 pm
#101-my son zone school is ps20 but i got a letter from ps244 this afternoon.do u know which one is better?
Comment by Terrymom — July 1, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
102– Of course 244 is better, its a grade k to 3, and its a new school. I applied to 244 also but they got nomore space. My duaghter got in to 242 but we ar not going there, which is the same kind of school as 244. grade K to 3 school has better curriculum compared to other general ed. school.
Comment by anon — July 1, 2009 @ 7:48 pm
#102 I am a fan of the early ed (K-3). I know many students who came out of 130 and it is well respected and I have heard promising things about 244 as another great spin off the early ed. K-3 is very empowering for the children and devleoped a sense of self confidence. In additon they get access to opportunities that in a more traditional environment they may need to wait for.
My child got into 130 and we seriously considered it. Unfortunaley transportation for the school was a problem for us.
Good luck
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — July 1, 2009 @ 11:40 pm
#103&104-thanks of your’s opinion.i will take p.s 244.
Comment by Terrymom — July 2, 2009 @ 9:52 am
#105 Good luck.
Comment by Comment by Anonymous — July 2, 2009 @ 10:53 pm