G&T admissions update; programs to begin in kindergarten

The calendar is now set for gifted and talented testing for elementary school students. Applications for testing will be available on Oct. 27 and must be returned within a few weeks, by Nov. 19.

In a departure from past practice, all gifted programs will start in kindergarten in the 2009-10 school year, according to officials at the Department of Education. In the past some programs, especially in Queens and the Bronx, began in 1st or 2nd grade rather than in kindergarten.

The decision to make the starting grade uniform citywide, was mentioned by representatives of the DOE's office in charge of G&T programs at an Oct. 15 presentation to foster care agencies, and is sure to be welcome news to parents from Queens and the Bronx. Last year at a forum about the G&T process sponsored by the DOE, parents asked why programs in Queens districts did not begin in kindergarten, even though their pre-school children were being tested for kindergarten slots. On the Insideschools blog last spring, Queens parents frequently expressed their frustration about the lack of kindergarten programs. "I want to make a united front on the fact that there are no new "K" programs in our district," wrote one District 25 parent.

Applications available online

Parents who want their children to be tested for elementary school G&T programs can access a G&T application, called a request for testing form, online beginning Oct. 27. Paper applications and parent handbooks including sample tests should be available at schools, district offices and enrollment offices as of Oct. 29, according to the DOE website.

The combined scores of the Bracken School Readiness (BRS) test and the Otis-Lennon School Abilities Test (OLSAT) determine eligibility for gifted and talented programs for children entering kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. Kids must score at least 90% to be placed in a district program and at least 97% to have a shot at even more selective citywide programs. Current 3rd and 4th graders may apply to gifted programs based on their standardized state test scores - they should score a "4" on both the reading and math tests to be considered but there are very few seats available, according to DOE officials. Tests are administered in eight different languages.

Testing timeline

Testing will take place from Jan. 5 - Feb. 15, 2009 for students entering kindergarten or 1st grade; in February and March for students entering 2nd and 3rd grade. Students who attend public schools will be tested in the schools; those attending private schools will be tested at district offices on the weekends. See the Department of Education calendar for details.

Got more questions? Attend an info session

The Department of Education will hold information sessions in every borough starting Oct. 27, including separate sessions in different languages for non-English speakers. Check our calendar and the Department of Education website for dates and locations.

For more information, and a list of current programs, see our page on Gifted and talented programs.

Judy Baum, Oct. 21, 2008

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