![nyc gifted and talented nyc gifted and talented](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bA6-rwQ3aps/maxresdefault.jpg)
Gentry said she will consider the program a success if students show progress academically, but also if they are more motivated in school and have positive attitudes about their own ability to learn.Ĭorwith, the gifted expert from Northwestern, said the organization’s approach is similar to other programs that fall under the umbrella of “front-loading.” Those programs aim to give students access to rigorous learning experiences early in their school careers, opening up more opportunities for them later on. She’s also an advisor to New York Edge as the organization implements the five-year grant. Marcia Gentry is the executive director of the Gifted Education Research and Resource Institute at Purdue University. “I’m learning a lot of things that I’m really not taught in day school,” she said. Kelly said one of her favorite projects involved meeting an illustrator and publishing a student-written book. “We provide them access to thrive in what they are able to do.” “It’s a matter of exposure - exposure to opportunities, exposure to other cultures - through a unique model,” Thomas said. The sessions also aim to provide enrichment through new experiences that allow students to discover and build talents. Courtne Thomas, director of curriculum and instruction for the Excellence Project, said instructors incorporate student feedback from surveys into their lessons.
![nyc gifted and talented nyc gifted and talented](https://www.datocms-assets.com/7756/1598280622-pexels-cottonbro-4769474.jpg)
The sessions are like an extension of the school day, but with more opportunities for students to lead their own projects on topics they’re curious about. Students participating in the Excellence Project meet every school day from 3 p.m. For those reasons, she said it’s also helpful to couple nominations with a universal approach to screening children for admission to gifted programs. Teacher referrals can also be subject to biases. But some children might still get left out if families don’t have access to information or positive experiences with their school. Susan Corwith, an associate director at the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University who is not involved with the grant, said the nomination process is a good step toward more inclusive programming. To participate, students can nominate themselves, or they can be nominated by a parent or teacher. The program opens up the admissions process even wider than the city’s approach. 189 are Black or Latino, reflecting the school population. Historically, New York City has relied on tests, though t he city has recently moved to family nominations for kindergarten admissions and will use report card grades to admit third grade students starting next school year.īy contrast, most of the students in the Excellence Project at P.S. One of the biggest is how students are selected. That lack of representation is often blamed on many factors. Low-income students are also underrepresented, and there are few students who have disabilities or are learning English as a new language. While about 60% of public school students here are Black or Latino, enrollment in gifted programs is almost the inverse most students are Asian American or white. Once identified as “gifted,” students are funneled into their own classrooms or even entire schools. Not every school hosts one, which raises access challenges for many students. New York City’s gifted programs have been the subject of fierce debate. “If you think about the amount of time students participate in after-school programming, our ability to accelerate kids’ learning, ignite curiosity, go really deep into subject matter … there’s a lot that we can do in the after-school space.” “We think this can be a powerful place and space for gifted and talented education, and really, for equity,” said Rachael Gazdick, CEO of New York Edge. With a recent $3 million federal grant, the nonprofit will soon expand into six more schools, hoping to become a model for bringing gifted programming to students who are underrepresented in the city’s own starkly segregated gifted classrooms.
![nyc gifted and talented nyc gifted and talented](https://www.eccrsd.us/cms/lib/NJ50000121/Centricity/ModuleInstance/45/large/Screen%20Shot%202019-04-29%20at%208.21.01%20AM.png)
The Excellence Project was developed by the after-school provider New York Edge.