Got something to say about public school admissions policies? Today is the day to speak your piece. The City Council Education Committee  is calling all interested parents and advocates to testify at a hearing about Department of Education admissions procedures.  Among other things, the hearing will focus on changes made in the past few years,  including the  centralization of  admissions for pre-Kindergarten and gifted and talented programs.

The education committee, chaired by Robert Jackson, will be questioning elected officials and  members of the DOE's enrollment office about policies and procedures that affect  all students admissions from  pre-K, to high school.

According to the hearing notice: "We invite members of Community Education Councils, parents, students, educators, advocates, and all other stakeholders and interested members of the public to testify at this hearing.   Testimony will be limited to 2-3 minutes per person to allow as many as possible to testify.  Although the hearing starts at 1:00 pm, the Administration (Department of Education), as well as other witnesses (such as elected officials) have been invited to testify and answer questions from Council Members at the outset, so we do not expect to hear from others until sometime after 2:30pm.  Please make sure you fill out a witness slip on the desk of the Sergeant-at-arms if you wish to testify.  If you plan to bring written testimony, please bring at least 20 copies."

For those parents who have been commenting all year on InsideSCOOP, here's a chance to let elected officials know what you think! Head over to

250 Broadway, 16th floor hearing room this afternoon. (Take the 4,5 or R train to City Hall; 1,2, or 3 trains to Chambers Street.)  We'll be there too.