Bill > S01415

This bill amends the Education Law to change the admission process for specialized high schools in New York City. The key provisions are: 1. Reserving openings at each specialized high school for students in the top 3-7% of their 8th grade class, based on a composite score calculated from multiple measures of student achievement such as grades and test scores. These students must also rank in the top quarter of all 8th graders citywide. 2. Allowing the remaining openings to be filled by students who take a competitive, objective, and scholastic exam in 8th or 9th grade and score above a certain cut-off. 3. Maintaining the existing "Discovery Program" that allows some students to be admitted through a preparatory program during the school year or summer. 4. Specifying that admission to the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts will be based on demonstrated abilities in the arts as well as scholastic achievement. This bill aims to change the admissions process for New York City's specialized high schools, which have historically used a single entrance exam as the primary criterion for admission.