The Influence of Post-COVID Policies on Demographic Shifts in NYC’s Gifted and Talented Program

• In Event: Evaluating the Ripple Effects: Policy Impacts of Pressing Educational Reform

Abstract

This study examines the impact of post-COVID admissions policies on the demographic composition of New York City’s Gifted and Talented (GT) program. Following the discontinuation of the test-based admissions policy in the 2020-21 school year, GT admissions shifted to a teacher nomination process in 2021-22, universal screening in 2022-23, and back to teacher nomination in 2023-24. Using a two-sample z-test for proportions, this study reveals significant demographic shifts, particularly among Asian, White, Black, and Hispanic students. The findings indicate that the post-COVID changes led to a decrease in the proportion of Asian students and an increase in the proportion of White students in GT programs, and that universal screening in 2022-23 significantly affected the representation of Black students in GT.

Authors

• Katherine Wilson, University of Pennsylvania

• Wendy Chan, University of Pennsylvania