Panel for Educational Policy votes to computerize exam for top high schools after five-hour meeting.
The Panel for Educational Policy in New York City has approved a new contract for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) in a 14-to-2 vote. This test is the sole criteria for admission into the city’s elite public high schools, including Stuyvesant High School and Bronx High School of Science. The new five-year, $17 million contract with Pearson, a leading education publisher in the U.S., will transition the test to a computer-based format for the first time.
The decision to modernize the SHSAT is significant as the test has long been a subject of controversy and scrutiny. The specialized high schools, while educating only a small percentage of New York City high school students, are highly regarded as top-tier institutions. However, they have also been criticized for perpetuating school segregation, with admissions data showing significant racial disparities.
Approximately 30,000 eighth graders and 5,000 ninth graders take the SHSAT annually. Despite efforts to increase diversity, racial gaps persist in admissions, with only 12 percent of spots offered to Black and Latino students last year. This was an improvement from previous years, but disparities remain a concern. Mayor Eric Adams has even likened the specialized high schools to a “Jim Crow school system.”
For example, Stuyvesant High School, the flagship school, admitted only 10 Black students out of a first-year class of 744 students last year. This stark lack of diversity underscores the need for reforms in the admissions process to promote equity and inclusivity in these prestigious institutions.
In conclusion, the approval of the new contract for the SHSAT marks a significant step towards modernizing the admissions process for New York City’s specialized high schools. By transitioning to a computer-based test format, the hope is to make the system more accessible and equitable for all students, regardless of their background. This move reflects ongoing efforts to address racial disparities and promote diversity in the city’s education system.
Source: The NY Times
