Requires the New York city department of education to create more gifted and talented programs and classes in all school districts with elementary kindergarten through fifth grade and intermediate sixth through eighth grade with four or more classes per grade for students who shall gain entry through academic merit rather than through an admissions examination; authorizes automatic admission to a gifted and talented program in intermediate sixth through eighth grade for those students in elementary grades kindergarten through fifth grade who are currently enrolled in such program; makes related provisions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1881
SPONSOR: Colton TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to requiring the New York city department of education to
create more gifted and talented programs and classes
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to require the New York City department of
education to create more gifted and talented programs and classes.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends the administrative code of the city of
New York by adding a new section 21-974.1. Subsection (a) of the new
section mandates that all elementary and intermediate schools with four
or more classes per grade will have an advanced class for top performing
students who will gain entry through academic merit rather than via an
admissions examination. Subsection (b) of the new section mandates that
all school districts will have at least one district gifted and talented
program for elementary school students who gain admissions based on an
objective admission standard. Further, it states that all school
districts shall have one district gifted and talented program for inter-
mediate school students with admissions based on an examination that
uses competitive and object measures of scholastic performance. The
intermediate district gifted and talented program shall automatically
grant admission to students who were part of the elementary school level
gifted and talented program.
Section 2 of this bill states that this act shall take effect on the one
hundred and twentieth day after it shall become law.
JUSTIFICATION:
While New York City schools are filled with some of the brightest chil-
dren in the country, unfortunately too often the schools they attend do
not have the proper programs to challenge them and develop their cogni-
tive skills. Gifted & Talented (G&T) programs are one way that New York
City supports the educational needs of exceptional students. While some
schools currently have G&T Programs, not all do, often disadvantaging
the students who need these classes the most.
This legislation would create more Advanced and G&T programs and class-
es, thus creating a pathway for top students to develop throughout their
time in elementary and intermediate schools. Further, this bill would
allow students to be admitted to Advanced classes at the elementary
school level via academic merit, rather than an admissions examination
giving some gifted children, who may not perform well in a test setting,
an avenue for admission to these programs. Passage of this bill will
give children in the city of New York a leg up and improve the educa-
tional quality of our schools at a time when many are calling for a
decrease in standards rather than an increase in resources for our chil-
dren.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: A. 2162/Education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred and twentieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
