Brighter idea needed

The city’s Department of Education is cheering improvements around the edges in improving access to its gifted and talented programs. The progress is welcome, but the school system remains resistant to the simplest, best way to open the doors to more kids. Last week, the DOE touted news that it would now have 44 G&T programs, up from 42, that give preference to low-income youngsters who qualify. Two more community school districts will now offer programs, starting in third grade, for super-smart kiddos. Good. Not nearly good enough. The same numbers underlined chronic disparities that have long plagued the city: While 84% of pre-K tots on the Upper West Side took the test and hundreds made the bar, in the South Bronx, only 7% signed up, and so few qualified that no program was offered. Two districts in the Bronx and two in Brooklyn don’t have gifted K classes either.

The problem? In more well-to-do districts, having 4-year-olds take the gifted and talented test is routine. In poor areas, few kids take the test and only tiny numbers qualify.

The answer: Sign up every child enrolled in the city’s universal pre-K network for the assessment. Let parents opt out, but opt everyone in.

Just-departed schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña refused to move in that direction. Let’s hope her successor, Richard Carranza, who starts Monday, won’t have such a steep learning curve.