Rally to Save G&T

Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced an end to all Gifted and Talented programs, without any of the promised family engagement. No new students will be allowed in starting the next school year, but existing students will be allowed to continue. For TAG specifically, that means there will be no new Kindergarten class in 2022, and less and less funding each year as enrollment dwindles. 

As the City elects a new mayor next month who will take over before any such changes would be implemented, the mayoral candidate who wins will have final say on this attempted closure of TAG and all NYC gifted and talented programs. Both Eric Adams (the Democratic candidate and presumptive favorite) and Curtis Sliwa (the Republican candidate) have campaigned on expanding the program to every district.

But the dynamic now changed from expanding an existing program, to reinstating a cancelled program. Parents of G&T students should express their views on the fate of the program before any changes are finalized. Here are several things you can do:

Attend the "Rally to Save G&T" Thursday, Oct 14, 12 Noon, at 52 Chambers St in front of the Tweed Courthouse.

Contact candidates for next month's Mayoral election:

Eric Adams
Response: A spokesperson for Adams, the frontrunner to win the overwhelmingly Democratic city in November, said the current Brooklyn borough president 'has said consistently he would keep the Gifted and Talented test and provide more resources, classes and support to lower-income students to ensure fairer outcomes,' adding his 'position hasn’t changed.' (via spokesperson)
Twitter: @ericadamsfornyc
Campaign:
https://ericadams2021.com/
info@ericadams2021.com 
(929)474-3793
Brooklyn Borough President Office:
(718)802-3700
ryanlynch@brooklynbp.nyc.gov (his chief of staff) and jlowel@brooklynbp.nyc.gov (his policy director)

Curtis Sliwa
Response: "As NYC Mayor, I will immediately re-implement gifted & talented programs, while also increasing testing resources so all students can adequately prepare for the admissions exam!" (via Twitter)
Twitter: @CurtisSliwa
Campaign website: https://sliwaforny.com/contact/

Contact other elected and education officials:

Current Mayor
call 311
email: bdeblasio@cityhall.nyc.gov
Web: https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/mayor-contact.page
Twitter: @BilldeBlasio @NYCMayor @NYCMayorsOffice
Call into Friday morning radio, NPR The Brian Lehrer Show for "Ask the Mayor": https://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl

NYC DOE Chancellor Meisha Porter
email: nycchancellor@schools.nyc.gov
Office: (212)374-6000
DOE main switchboard: (718)935-2000
Twitter: @DOEChancellor

John C. Liu, New York State Senator; Chair of Standing Committee on NYC Education
Response: "Gifted and talented programs have been an integral option for generations of schoolkids. Bill de Blasio promised intensive public engagement about it but now wants total elimination. This won’t help his abysmal record. If anything, his legacy will be revocation of mayoral control." (via Twitter)
email: liu@nysenate.gov
Twitter: @LiuNewYork

Mark Treyger, NYC Council Member, Education Chair
email: MTreyger@council.nyc.gov
Twitter: @MarkTreyger718

Also contact your local reps in City Hall and State legislator:
Look up your Council Member https://council.nyc.gov/districts/
Look up your NYS Senator https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator/
Look up your Assembly Member https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/

More information

Story first leaked to NY Times before official announcement:
De Blasio to Phase Out N.Y.C. Gifted and Talented Program
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/08/nyregion/gifted-talented-nyc-schools.html

Parents rip de Blasio for ‘abominable’ plan to end Gifted and Talented program
https://nypost.com/2021/10/08/parents-rip-de-blasio-for-plan-to-end-gifted-and-talented-program/

NYC mayor frontrunner Eric Adams hints he would REVERSE Bill de Blasio's decision to cancel 'Gifted and Talented' school program
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10076879/Eric-Adams-signals-save-gifted-talented-initiative-day-Blasio-cancels-program.html

Statement by pro accelerated education advocacy group:
PLACE NYC Condemns Mayor de Blasio Killing Gifted & Talented Program in the 11th Hour Without Promised Family Engagement
https://placenyc.org/2021/10/08/place-nyc-condemns-mayor-de-blasio-killing-gifted-talented-program-in-the-11th-hour-without-promised-family-engagement/