New York City is making great efforts to diversify its Gifted and Talented programs. There are currently more than 40 programs which have changed their admissions policies to enroll a more diverse group of students. For example P.S. 11, the William T. Harris School in Chelsea will reserve 30% of its open gifted seats for students who qualify for free-or reduced-price lunch based on their family income, are homeless or live in public house. Also at TAG Young Scholars Academy that number is 40%.
Diversity in gifted programs has been challenging for New York City. Enrollment in gifted programs is almost the opposite of the demographics in the standard school system. Black and Hispanic students make up 27 percent of students in gifted classes, as opposed to nearly 70 percent of students in the standard schools.
In an article published 6/1/2018 "New York City gifted programs show progress towards modest student diversity goals" by Christina Veiga, retrieved from https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/06/01/new-york-city-gifted-programs-show-progress-towards-modest-student-diversity-goals/, the author noted that there have been modest progress towards diversity since its implementation in 2015. “There’s been over a decade of efforts to reform and to shift, to tinker,” he said. “None of those have ever really made a significant change.” says Matt Gonzales, a school integration advocate with the nonprofit Appleseed.
I think it is crucial to have diversity. The United States of America takes it's pride in being the melting pot of all cultures, races and religions. Yet some races and cultures struggle to be included into too many aspects within our society and that hurts them as well as the society as a whole. We are better when we think and behave diversely! The NYC school system needs to address how they are going to include gifted Blacks and Hispanics. There are undoubtedly more gifted Blacks and Hispanics and not finding a way to incorporate them hurts the students and the schools.
Diversity in gifted programs has been challenging for New York City. Enrollment in gifted programs is almost the opposite of the demographics in the standard school system. Black and Hispanic students make up 27 percent of students in gifted classes, as opposed to nearly 70 percent of students in the standard schools.
In an article published 6/1/2018 "New York City gifted programs show progress towards modest student diversity goals" by Christina Veiga, retrieved from https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/06/01/new-york-city-gifted-programs-show-progress-towards-modest-student-diversity-goals/, the author noted that there have been modest progress towards diversity since its implementation in 2015. “There’s been over a decade of efforts to reform and to shift, to tinker,” he said. “None of those have ever really made a significant change.” says Matt Gonzales, a school integration advocate with the nonprofit Appleseed.
I think it is crucial to have diversity. The United States of America takes it's pride in being the melting pot of all cultures, races and religions. Yet some races and cultures struggle to be included into too many aspects within our society and that hurts them as well as the society as a whole. We are better when we think and behave diversely! The NYC school system needs to address how they are going to include gifted Blacks and Hispanics. There are undoubtedly more gifted Blacks and Hispanics and not finding a way to incorporate them hurts the students and the schools.
Great pick. Unfortunately gifted students are often neglected. Glad that now it's getting more attention. Dr. Hsu :)
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