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SHSAT History: NY Times article on the then "Special Progress" program, providing in-school #SHSAT test prep in the Bronx. #SPECIALPROGRESS #SP Dec 12th 1978
"Special Progress" program was set up as an accelerated learning program in 1947. Even then it replaced another acceleration program called "Rapid-Advancement" classes. NYTimes March 13th, 1947
SP classes were dogged with segregation issues throughout its life, but this came to head in the late 60s and 70s through the civil rights movement then.
In a sense, SP was seen as an alternative to "White flight", referenced in this article
https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/13/archives/board-says-segregated-classes-resulted-from-federal-programs.html
In a sense, SP was seen as an alternative to "White flight", referenced in this article
https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/13/archives/board-says-segregated-classes-resulted-from-federal-programs.html
This 1987 article gives us a little more insight into an SP school. It's really not that impressive if you understand what's happening.
The school is now a magnet drawing 120 bussed-in students into a 200 sts program.
The school is now a magnet drawing 120 bussed-in students into a 200 sts program.
It's clear that by 1987 the promising little "Special Progress" program we saw in 1978 has been a "program" version of today's "Bronx Science".
Students visit the Bronx to attend school then get the heck out.
Students visit the Bronx to attend school then get the heck out.
In 1964 "Special Progress" program made it into the now infamous Parent And Taxpayers lawsuits.
They claim parents are being forced into Negro schools to attend SP. Little has changed in 60 years.
They claim parents are being forced into Negro schools to attend SP. Little has changed in 60 years.
SP programs heavily screened students. E.g. Mark Twain admissions requirements below.
https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/23/archives/new-jersey-pages-new-yorks-best-public-schools-defy-racial.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/23/archives/new-jersey-pages-new-yorks-best-public-schools-defy-racial.html
This article from 1974 pretty much sums up what happened to "Special Progress" classes. It also, in my mind, hints as to why the SP classes would not have been the solution to desegregating our Specialized HSs https://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/22/archives/2-ideals-at-issue.html
After Mark Twain was ruled unconstitutionally segregated, it was ordered to be a "Special Progress" magnet
The result was that the 80 Black/PR school became 70% White.
Today it's 13% B/L, 52% White, and 28% Asian students.
"Special Progress", like all other G&T segregates!
The result was that the 80 Black/PR school became 70% White.
Today it's 13% B/L, 52% White, and 28% Asian students.
"Special Progress", like all other G&T segregates!
The continued search for "What happened to SP" evidence turns up @edintheapple's blog with a nice summary. Also sources @DianeRavitch's "The Great School Wars: New York City, 1805-1973" https://mets2006.wordpress.com/2019/08/24/are-gifted-and-talented-classes-responding-to-political-needs-of-parents-and-politicians-should-we-be-segregating-gifted-students/
