PHOTO: Jahi Rose (r.), director of Constituent Affairs for City Councilman Ruben Wills, recently delivered test preparation materials to the Lefferts branch of the Queens Library. Photo Courtesy of Councilman Wills Office’
By Michael V. Cusenza
City Councilman Ruben Wills’ (D-Jamaica) office recently donated test preparation materials for the Department of Education’s Gifted & Talented program entrance examinations to four Queens Library branches.
Practice exams and other prep materials for grades K-2 are available at the Baisley Park, Lefferts, Rochdale Village, or South Ozone Park libraries.
“Not enough children of color have been encouraged to take the Gifted & Talented exams, and this has severely diminished the availability of G&T programs in our communities,” Wills said. “These would-be child prodigies need the cultivation and nurturing that G&T provides in order for them to realize their potential. The test preparation resources we have supplied will aid them in qualifying for enrollment, so they can have a chance to benefit from the Gifted and Talented program’s advanced level of instruction.”
According to the DOE, students entering Kindergarten through 3rd grade are eligible to participate in G&T admissions. Children must pass an assessment to be eligible to apply to G&T programs, which the City describes as “one way that the NYC Department of Education supports the needs of exceptional students. G&T programs aim to deliver accelerated, rigorous, and specialized instruction aligned to Common Core Learning Standards.”
G&T testing for Jan. 23 and 24 were cancelled due to the blizzard. Testing will continue to be conducted at DOE schools through the remainder of January.
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
