Letters to the Editor

Gifted and Talented woes

May 22, 2008 9:14 AM

The following letter was sent to Newsday and the New York Post:

To the Editor:

Last week, my son received a letter congratulating him on being accepted into the New York City Department of Education Gifted and Talented Program. Today, I was informed that my child has no option to go into a G&T program in District 26 as there is no G&T program for kindergarten children in the district. The program only starts in the 1st grade.

I would not have had my child take this test if I knew that he did not have any chance at all to go to a Queens school. I am sure that many other parents in the 13 districts who do not have a G&T program in kindergarten feel the same. When I registered my child to take this test, at the Queens District office, not one person mentioned that the only school district that has such a program in Queens is District 27.

How can the DOE have sent out this letter when there is nowhere for these children to go?

This test was given to children one on one. More than 23,000 children took it. How much money did the DOE spend on this test — which was a complete waste of time for many children? When I asked if my son’s scores could be used for when he enters 1st grade, I was told he would have to retake it in kindergarten. More money wasted.

Suzanne Miller, Bayside HS