Yatin Xu of Place NYC supports Intro 684 on G&T access
Xu testifies in support of Intro 684, noting G&T programs are unevenly distributed with too few seats—10,000 families apply for 2,500 spots. He criticizes the sole reliance on subjective teacher recommendations for G&T identification, arguing it disproportionately harms immigrant families and ELL students, and calls for universal screening with standardized assessments.
Good afternoon, Chair Dinowitz and Chair De La Rosa.
Thank you for the opportunity to give my testimony.
My name is Yatin Xu, and I'm speaking today on behalf of Place NYC, an organization that advocates for high-quality, accelerated learning opportunities for students in New York City public schools.
Place NYC strongly supports Intro 684, which calls for a study on how students'language status and geographic location affect access to early elementary gifted and talented programs.
G&T programs are unevenly distributed across the city.
Many districts, particularly in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and parts of Queens, have few G&T seats.
Geographic location should never determine whether a child receives an education they need.
Every year, 10,000 families apply hoping for a spot with just 2,500 seats across the city.
There are simply too few seats.
Equally troubling is the sole reliance on a subjective teacher recommendation for G&T identification for the program's lottery.
This process is prone to teacher bias, and we believe it disproportionately harms immigrant families where students'home language
is not English.
The current pre-K teacher assessment takes place just three months after students in the classroom.
As a result, many bright English language learner students may not be recommended for gifted and talented programs, even when they are clearly ready for more challenging work.
We urge the council to examine these problems and recommend concrete solutions, specifically the adoption of an objective evaluation measure in early grades.
Universal screening using standardized assessments would give every child a fair opportunity to be recognized, regardless of language background or zip code.
By including an objective evaluation and early identification, we can ensure that students who are ready for acceleration receives the appropriate education they deserve.
Place NYC urges the council to advance this bill so we can finally gather the data needed to build a fairer and more effective G&T program for New York City students.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Michelle?