Bill A7510 Relates to admission to the specialized high schools in the city of New York; removes the discovery program admission process.
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To: benedettom@nyassembly.gov, bichotter@nyassembly.gov, bronsonh@nyassembly.gov, buttenschonm@nyassembly.gov, conradw@nyassembly.gov, DickensI@nyassembly.gov, friendc@nyassembly.gov, hyndmana@nyassembly.gov, Jacksonc@nyassembly.gov, jeanpierrek@nyassembly.gov, joynerl@nyassembly.gov, KimR@nyassembly.gov, lawlerm@nyassembly.gov, MagnarW@nyassembly.gov, mcdonoughd@nyassembly.gov, mikulinj@nyassembly.gov, MillerML@nyassembly.gov, mitaynesm@nyassembly.gov, OdonnellD@nyassembly.gov, OtisS@nyassembly.gov, PaulinA@nyassembly.gov, ramosp@nyassembly.gov, reillym@nyassembly.gov, district43@nyassembly.gov, sayeghn@nyassembly.gov, SeawrightR@nyassembly.gov, septimoa@nyassembly.gov, simonj@nyassembly.gov, smithd@nyassembly.gov, taylora@nyassembly.gov, walshm@nyassembly.gov, placenyc.action@gmail.com
Subject: Please Oppose Bill A7510
Dear Assembly Member,
Fewer than 50% of NYC public school students are proficient in English and Math. With the pandemic, it is widely expected that the proficiency rate will decrease significantly. Instead of introducing laws requiring the NYC DOE to improve elementary and middle school education, NYS Assembly Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto introduced bill A7510 to eliminate the Specialized High School Admissions Test (“SHSAT”) and terminate the Discovery program which offers low income minority students who just missed the Specialized High School cutoff an opportunity to gain admission by completing additional preparatory course work.
By eliminating the SHSAT, bill A7510 intentionally targets and discriminates against a large number of Asian students – many who come from low income or immigrant families. Similar proposals have been shown to reduce Asian student enrollment by 50%. By ending the Discovery Program, many low income minority students will no longer have a pathway to the Specialized High Schools.
We request sponsors Assembly Member Benedetto and co-sponsors Assembly Members Charles Barron and Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn to withdraw their bill targeting the many low income, immigrant and minority students, and instead focus on developing laws and policies that require the NYC DOE to improve the quality of education for all students. Expanding and improving education starting in elementary school should be the solution, not Assembly bills penalizing high performing low income, minority and immigrant 8th grade students by limiting their access to Specialized High Schools. Please oppose bill A7510. Thank you.
[Signature]
State Assembly Members – Education Committee: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZLA2NRzaCeFxnyzY3hgEO9mZmlQ06PerRSNiQObK8j0/edit?usp=sharing
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