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NAACP to file complaint over entry test for elite New York high schools
(Reuters) - The largest U.S. civil rights group plans to file a complaint on Thursday over the admissions test at New York City's specialized high schools, among the nation's most elite public schools, citing effective discrimination against black and Latino students, the group said.
The complaint with the U.S. Department of Education focuses on eight schools in the city, particularly on Stuyvesant High and Bronx Science, which boast stellar alumni including several Nobel laureates, famed actors and musicians, and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
While more than half the population of New York City is black or Latino, black students made up only 1.2 percent of the Stuyvesant student body last year, while Latino students represented 2.4 percent, city data showed.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which is filing the complaint, said the highly competitive, 2-1/2-hour, multiple-choice Specialized High School Admissions Test was at fault for the disparity.
"Year after year, thousands of academically talented African-American and Latino students who take the test are denied admission to the Specialized High Schools at rates far higher than those for other racial groups," the NAACP said in a draft of its complaint shared with media outlets on Wednesday before the Thursday filing.
If the department investigates and finds New York is in breach of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, it can sanction the city by withholding federal funding until the breach is resolved, the NAACP said.
The city's Department of Education said in a statement on Wednesday it was bound by state law to admit students based "solely on an exam."
"We want all of our students to have opportunities to prepare for the test no matter their zip code," it said, adding more black and Hispanic students were offered specialized high school seats last year than in the previous two years.
ACADEMIC POTENTIAL
The NAACP said in its complaint that the test had never been shown to predict reliably a student's academic potential, and breached the Civil Rights Act by having an "unjustified, racially disparate impact."
It said that other elite, academically successful schools in New York City that use broader criteria such as a student's grade-point average, attendance, teacher recommendations, interviews and writing samples had far higher enrollments of black and Latino students.
"To use a standard test that has no demonstrative relationship to past academic achievements or future academic potential seems wrong," Damon Hewitt, the education director at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in an interview.
"Quite literally, a kid could have straights ‘A's from kindergarten to Grade 8, could have won a national spelling bee." he added, "But none of that matters - all that matters is the test."
Rapper Himanshu Suri, who was vice president of the Stuyvesant student union from 2001 to 2002, said knowledge of and preparation for the test varied widely across neighborhoods, and that the school, where Asians make up more than two-thirds of the student body, suffered for its lack of diversity.
"In the Asian community in Queens, from a very young age, you know about Stuyvesant, you know about that test," he said in an interview, adding the city should do more to reach students who may not have parents like his, who started talking about the test with him while he was still a pre-teen.
"These are schools for the brightest students in New York City," he added. "We're saying something wrong if we're saying New York City's brightest students are almost all Chinese or Korean."
SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/us-usa-newyork-naacp-idUSBRE88Q04020120927
The complaint with the U.S. Department of Education focuses on eight schools in the city, particularly on Stuyvesant High and Bronx Science, which boast stellar alumni including several Nobel laureates, famed actors and musicians, and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
While more than half the population of New York City is black or Latino, black students made up only 1.2 percent of the Stuyvesant student body last year, while Latino students represented 2.4 percent, city data showed.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which is filing the complaint, said the highly competitive, 2-1/2-hour, multiple-choice Specialized High School Admissions Test was at fault for the disparity.
"Year after year, thousands of academically talented African-American and Latino students who take the test are denied admission to the Specialized High Schools at rates far higher than those for other racial groups," the NAACP said in a draft of its complaint shared with media outlets on Wednesday before the Thursday filing.
If the department investigates and finds New York is in breach of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, it can sanction the city by withholding federal funding until the breach is resolved, the NAACP said.
The city's Department of Education said in a statement on Wednesday it was bound by state law to admit students based "solely on an exam."
"We want all of our students to have opportunities to prepare for the test no matter their zip code," it said, adding more black and Hispanic students were offered specialized high school seats last year than in the previous two years.
ACADEMIC POTENTIAL
The NAACP said in its complaint that the test had never been shown to predict reliably a student's academic potential, and breached the Civil Rights Act by having an "unjustified, racially disparate impact."
It said that other elite, academically successful schools in New York City that use broader criteria such as a student's grade-point average, attendance, teacher recommendations, interviews and writing samples had far higher enrollments of black and Latino students.
"To use a standard test that has no demonstrative relationship to past academic achievements or future academic potential seems wrong," Damon Hewitt, the education director at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in an interview.
"Quite literally, a kid could have straights ‘A's from kindergarten to Grade 8, could have won a national spelling bee." he added, "But none of that matters - all that matters is the test."
Rapper Himanshu Suri, who was vice president of the Stuyvesant student union from 2001 to 2002, said knowledge of and preparation for the test varied widely across neighborhoods, and that the school, where Asians make up more than two-thirds of the student body, suffered for its lack of diversity.
"In the Asian community in Queens, from a very young age, you know about Stuyvesant, you know about that test," he said in an interview, adding the city should do more to reach students who may not have parents like his, who started talking about the test with him while he was still a pre-teen.
"These are schools for the brightest students in New York City," he added. "We're saying something wrong if we're saying New York City's brightest students are almost all Chinese or Korean."
SOURCE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/us-usa-newyork-naacp-idUSBRE88Q04020120927
The NAACP leaves white people out of the equation unless they can make "whitey" the problem.
And it SURELY couldn't be because the black & latino students in NYC just don't test well, and have "other" priorities (ie: gang-activity, stealing cars, robbing banks, home-invasions, etc). Nawwww... that couldn't have ANYTHING to do with it at all.
This reminds me of the White firefighter vs the Black firefighter.
Both were up for a senior level position, and had to take a test.
Both had EXACTLY the same background, qualifications, schooling (education), etc, but the White guy had been serving for TWO years more than the Black guy. They were the SAME in every way except for skin-color, and the 2-year difference in 'length-of-service'.
Guess who got the job? THE BLACK GUY
Why?
Because there was a 3-point "racial curve" for African-American applicants/test-takers.
Tell me... how the hell is THAT fair?
The White guy SHOULD have gotten the job, because he had seniority, but no...
Anyway, that was off topic, sorry.
This reminds me of the White firefighter vs the Black firefighter.
Both were up for a senior level position, and had to take a test.
Both had EXACTLY the same background, qualifications, schooling (education), etc, but the White guy had been serving for TWO years more than the Black guy. They were the SAME in every way except for skin-color, and the 2-year difference in 'length-of-service'.
Guess who got the job? THE BLACK GUY
Why?
Because there was a 3-point "racial curve" for African-American applicants/test-takers.
Tell me... how the hell is THAT fair?
The White guy SHOULD have gotten the job, because he had seniority, but no...
Anyway, that was off topic, sorry.
The more I look into this, the more frustrated I become.
New York City 2010 Census White –44.6%, Black-25.1%, Hispanic-27.5%, Asian-11.8%. (The %s are +-)
So what exactly are they upset about? Are they claiming Racial Bias because Asians shouldn’t be merited for their hard work. How could 11.8% population possibly make up about 66.6% of the student body. Yes it has to Racism because it couldn’t be work ethics.
New York City 2010 Census White –44.6%, Black-25.1%, Hispanic-27.5%, Asian-11.8%. (The %s are +-)
So what exactly are they upset about? Are they claiming Racial Bias because Asians shouldn’t be merited for their hard work. How could 11.8% population possibly make up about 66.6% of the student body. Yes it has to Racism because it couldn’t be work ethics.
It could be far less than 29.8% because the artical did not mention what the percentage of Mid. Eastern is.
If Asians make up more than 2 thirds (let’s just around it off at 2/3) that would be 66.6%. Blacks students are at 1.2% and Hispanic Students are at 2.4%. This is a total of 70.2% leaving White students at 29.8%. Two questions, why did The NAACP leave this little tid bit of information out and why are White people not crying about it?
*disagree.....Haha..I guess I need to go back to school!
"The NAACP is alluding to the fact that the "standardized test" is harder for Black's & Latino's."
I'd have to respectfully diagree El...
""Quite literally, a kid could have straights ‘A's from kindergarten to Grade 8, could have won a national spelling bee." he added, "But none of that matters - all that matters is the test." ..."
The entire schooling and grades of a student plus this test should determine if they get in...IMO
I'd have to respectfully diagree El...
""Quite literally, a kid could have straights ‘A's from kindergarten to Grade 8, could have won a national spelling bee." he added, "But none of that matters - all that matters is the test." ..."
The entire schooling and grades of a student plus this test should determine if they get in...IMO
I'm so glad my kids are grown and no longer in school.
Nowadays income seems to be more of a factor than does race, which ought to make you real happy.
See if you don't find this interesting.
Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say
By SABRINA TAVERNISE
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies-show.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www
See if you don't find this interesting.
Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say
By SABRINA TAVERNISE
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies-show.html?pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www
I didn't miss the point of the article, but I believe that you did.
The NAACP is alluding to the fact that the "standardized test" is harder for Black's & Latino's.
As for admission based solely on an admission-test... why are we saying it's okay for you to be a dumba$$, yet still be able to get into a specialized-school, or AP classes, etc?
The NAACP, if they have their way, will get rid of the standardized test, so that Black's & Latino's can gain admission.
And then, instead of being classified as "specialized" school, they'll be just like every other school.
And when EVERYONE is considered "special", then NO ONE will be.
The NAACP is alluding to the fact that the "standardized test" is harder for Black's & Latino's.
As for admission based solely on an admission-test... why are we saying it's okay for you to be a dumba$$, yet still be able to get into a specialized-school, or AP classes, etc?
The NAACP, if they have their way, will get rid of the standardized test, so that Black's & Latino's can gain admission.
And then, instead of being classified as "specialized" school, they'll be just like every other school.
And when EVERYONE is considered "special", then NO ONE will be.
You posted that article and apparently neglected to read or comprehend it.
The point was that admission was wholly dependent on the test result and not as you put it "based on academic credentials". And the validity of the test as a predictor of future performance was questioned/attacked.
"To use a standard test that has no demonstrative relationship to past academic achievements or future academic potential seems wrong," Damon Hewitt, the education director at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in an interview.
"These are schools for the brightest students in New York City," he added. "We're saying something wrong if we're saying New York City's brightest students are almost all Chinese or Korean."
"Quite literally, a kid could have straights ‘A's from kindergarten to Grade 8, could have won a national spelling bee." he added, "But none of that matters - all that matters is the test." ..."
The point was that admission was wholly dependent on the test result and not as you put it "based on academic credentials". And the validity of the test as a predictor of future performance was questioned/attacked.
"To use a standard test that has no demonstrative relationship to past academic achievements or future academic potential seems wrong," Damon Hewitt, the education director at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in an interview.
"These are schools for the brightest students in New York City," he added. "We're saying something wrong if we're saying New York City's brightest students are almost all Chinese or Korean."
"Quite literally, a kid could have straights ‘A's from kindergarten to Grade 8, could have won a national spelling bee." he added, "But none of that matters - all that matters is the test." ..."
"Year after year, thousands of academically talented African-American and Latino students who take the test are denied admission to the Specialized High Schools at rates far higher than those for other racial groups,"
So the NAACP is basically saying the African-American's and Latino's are more stupid than the students that DO get admitted, based on academic credentials.
Tell me... WHO is keeping racism alive and well in this country again?
So I'm curious what "plan of action" the NAACP is going to suggest...
I can see it now:
Separate tests for White & Asian students (et all), and a dumbed down version of the test for Black & Latino students.
So the NAACP is basically saying the African-American's and Latino's are more stupid than the students that DO get admitted, based on academic credentials.
Tell me... WHO is keeping racism alive and well in this country again?
So I'm curious what "plan of action" the NAACP is going to suggest...
I can see it now:
Separate tests for White & Asian students (et all), and a dumbed down version of the test for Black & Latino students.
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