DOE won’t discuss G&T admissions until after new year

Screen shot via Google Maps. PS 122, which houses both elementary and middle school G&T programs, would be affected by any policy change.

The Department of Education (DOE) has announced that it won’t consider changing the current admissions process to the middle school Gifted and Talented (G&T) program until 2017.

According to a letter by superintendent Dr. Philip A. Composto, the DOE, in conjunction with Community District Education Council 30, wants to “further engage families regarding potential changes” to the admissions process. The decision comes after a storm of outrage by local parents who want the process to remain the same.

Right now, elementary school students in District 30’s G&T program are “given an admissions priority” to enroll in the middle school version of the program.

The agreement was for the automatic enrollment to end by 2020, meaning the current group of first graders in the elementary G&T program wouldn’t have priority. They would have to apply to get into the middle school program.

The DOE now wants to change that rule to open up the process to other students throughout the district.

Today, the department said it wants feedback from families and the school communities first before coming to a decision.

“We will hold discussion meetings after the winter break, with dates to be announced in early January,” Composto wrote.

Elected officials have stood squarely with the parents at schools like PS 122, which has both an elementary and middle school G&T program.

“PS 122’s G&T program is a valued treasure in western Queens which makes our community proud,” said State Senator Michael Gianaris in a statement. “The current admissions process is the result of years of hard work that strikes the appropriate balance in the best interests of our children.”

“No changes to that process should occur unless affected families and community representatives are involved and approve of any alterations,” he added.

Borough President Melinda Katz has also chimed in. In a statement, she said she wants any new policies for G&T enrollment programs to be “prospectively applied” to the following year’s kindergarten class.

“It would be fair to allow all current students in the G&T programs in District 30 to continue so that they may auto-articulate into their own middle school and continue through 8th grade,” Katz said. “While it is important to expand equal access to G&T programs, it is equally important to honor commitments made to parents.”