NYC Department Of Education Plans To Discontinue Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 Gifted & Talented Program For Next School Year - Meeting On Friday

PS/IS 217 G & T Class Singing The Turkey Song At Thanksgiving Celebration

It began in the spring of 2008 with a Parent's Plea for a Roosevelt Island Gifted & Talented (G & T) class program to be established at our local PS/IS 217.

There is an effort underway here on Roosevelt Island to garner support for a Gifted and Talented program here at PS 217...

In 2009 the Parent's Plea was answered with the start of a Roosevelt Island G & T Kindergarten program.

Unfortunately, I've recently learned that the NYC Department of Education is planning on discontinuing the PS/IS 217 Gifted & Talented Program, at least for the upcoming school year. I asked NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin, who was instrumental in getting the program initiated, if this was true and received this response from her office:

We’ve been on the phone with various DOE representatives throughout the morning getting the definitive word on what’s happening. ...only 12 students ranked the Roosevelt Island program as a choice on their G&T applications – 10 from the Island and 2 from Jackson Heights in Queens. Of that group, 8 ranked the program among their top three choices. However, 5 students received placement at a program that they ranked higher than the Roosevelt Island program (such as Anderson and Lower Lab) and so likely wouldn’t be attending. That left seven students (2 of whom would need to arrange their own transportation from Queens twice a day) for the program. The DOE decided that was not enough to offer the class for this year. However, they have promised us that they remain committed to the program and will include it among the choices next year. They will also work to devise strategies to increase enrollment at the program. This year’s kindergarten class will be able to continue in the G&T program in first grade next year (and, in fact, is expected to grow by three students). There just won’t be a class immediately below them.

Ms Lappin added:

I am disappointed that the DOE will not be offering a kindergarten section for the gifted and talented program at PS/IS 217 this year. Given that the DOE did not listen to my repeated requests to provide transportation for off-Island students to get to the school, I’m not entirely surprised. I wish that they had listened to me months ago and set up a plan for busing. The DOE has assured me that they remain committed to this program, that the first grade class will continue, and that they will be working on ways to boost enrollment in this program in future years. I’m going to continue to work with parents and the school’s principal to make sure that the DOE stays true to their word.

PS/IS 217 PTA President Nikki Leopold commented:

Unfortunately, the DOE has decided, without any prior notice to PS/IS 217, to discontinue expansion of the G&T program at 217 based on "lack of enrollment". This is a disturbing development, given that the G&T program has been an overwhelming success and a welcome part of our school community. While the creation of a G&T program was visionary, in many ways, the obstacles were not taken into consideration. Despite the good intention in providing a G&T program to Roosevelt Island families, the reality is that the success of the program relies heavily on the commitment of Manhattan's District 2 families, where transportation remains a major deterrent. In addition, the enthusiastic participation of families in Jackson Heights, Queens, who have been such an integral part of the success of the program this school year, was hampered by the DOE's decision NOT to list 217 as a G&T option for those families this year.

As Council Member Lappin was instrumental in the implementation of this program, we are counting on her help to rectify the situation. To that end we are encouraging all parents interested in seeing the program remain in the school to contact both her & Micah Kellner to tell them as much. We would also hope that those Roosevelt Island parents, who were forceful advocates for the placement of the G&T program in our community, will view their advocacy as a commitment beyond their fight to simply get the program in the school. We hope we can count on them to partner with us, with an enthusiasm equal to their prior interests, as we fight to keep this much needed resource in place. The role of parent advocacy cannot be overstated, as these decisions are completely beyond the control of the school's Administration. Only vocal protest to both the DOE and our local elected politicians can reverse this decision.

and added:

To clarify, the current Kindergarten will move on to a first grade G&T and so forth. As of now, there will be no additional Kindergarten G&T programs implemented.

The Roosevelt Island School Gifted & Talented Class Blog reports:

G&T Program Emergency Meeting this Friday, June 11th @9:00 am in the Roosevelt Island School (P.S./I.S. 217) Auditorium (2nd Floor). Everyone, interested in the future of the G&T Program on the island, is invited. Offices of Council Member Lappin and Assembly Member Kellner confirmed they will be there. Please make every effort to attend!

More on the Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 G & T program here.

Below is Ms. Lappin's request to the DOE to provide transportation for off Island G & T students to PS/IS 217 and the DOE's response.
Lappin G&T Roosevelt Island Letter

DOE G&T Roosevelt Island Response

UPDATE 6/10 - The Wall Street Journal reports on the discontinuance of Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 G & T Program:

A Roosevelt Island public school won't offer its gifted-and-talented program for incoming kindergartners, prompting parental gripes and threats to move to the suburbs.

Families point to the Department of Education's discontinuation of the class at P.S./I.S. 217 as ironic amid overcrowding and a scramble for kindergarten seats.

"I'm devastated," said Cari Bak, a mother of two who moved to Roosevelt Island recently...