BILL NUMBER: S9141

SPONSOR: AVELLA
 
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 1 of this bill amends the administrative code of the city of New
York by adding a new section 21974.1.

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.  Even in the schools that
currently have such programs, they are often limited to only those
students who can do exceptionally well on the admissions exam, which
does not factor in academic performance.

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.
 
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 become 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.