What's happening
This bill requires New York City public schools and districts to expand and guarantee access to gifted and talented programs for eligible students.
Why it matters
Mandates that all larger elementary and middle schools (with four or more classes per grade) must offer at least one gifted and talented class per grade, increasing the availability of advanced coursework and potentially reducing disparities in access.
Shifts entry to these school-based gifted classes away from standardized admissions exams toward academic merit, potentially broadening participation and changing the profile of students in these programs.
Requires each school district to operate at least one district-wide gifted program for both elementary and middle grades, ensuring every district has a centralized advanced educational option for high-achieving students.
Guarantees automatic placement into middle school gifted programs for students already in elementary gifted programs within the district, providing continuity and reducing barriers for ongoing participation in advanced academic tracks.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Gifted Programs Citywide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to new york city education
- Referred to new york city education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Gifted School Programs
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor William Colton
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3878
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 20, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on New York City Education
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-974.1 to read as follows:
§ 21-974.1 Gifted and talented programs and classes. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, regulation or local law to the contrary, the department shall direct:
a. All schools with elementary kindergarten through fifth grade with four or more classes per grade shall have at least one class per grade for top performing students who gain entry through academic merit rather than through an admissions examination. All schools with intermediate sixth through eighth grade with four or more classes per grade shall have at least one class per grade for top performing students who gain entry through academic merit rather than through an admissions examination.
b. All school districts shall have at least one district gifted and talented program for elementary kindergarten through fifth grade with admissions based on the current admissions standard. All school districts shall have at least one district gifted and talented program for intermediate sixth through eighth grade with admissions based on an examination that uses a competitive and objective measure of scholastic achievement; provided, however, that any student in a gifted and talented program for elementary kindergarten through fifth grade pursuant to this subdivision shall receive automatic admission to a gifted and talented program for intermediate sixth through eighth grade.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04739-01-9
S. 3878 2
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred 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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 elemen- tary school students who gain admissions based on the current admissions standard. Further, it states that all school districts shall have one district gifted and talented program for intermediate 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
New Bill.
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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.