Manhattan, NY – Last week, several community based organizations gathered for two rallies to show support for the SHSAT. Mayor Bill de Blasio’s recently announced plan proposes to change the current admissions criterion to NYC’s Specialized High Schools. This plan would replace the SHSAT with a new method that would admit students based on their class rank at their middle school as well as their statewide standardized tests scores.
On Friday, KT CEO & President, Dr. Ivan Khan joined Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Councilman Peter Koo, Assemblyman Ron Kim, and Assemblyman Edward Braunstein along with Asian American community organizers in Flushing, Queens to oppose Mayor De Blasio’s admissions plan. Supporters spoke of diversifying the Specialized High Schools by improving K-8 education and increasing access to citywide prep.
On Sunday, Dr. Khan joined State Senator Martin Golden and Councilman Peter Koo at City Hall Park to support the preservation of the current merit based admissions system. Other supporters include Specialized High School Alumni groups and CoalitionEDU.
Finally, Dr. Khan served on a panel discussion on PIX11 advocating to protect the SHSAT. He sat with David Lee from the Chinese American Citizen’s Alliance (CACA) and Reverend Kirsten John Foy from the National Action Network. Watch the clip below for more.
With 11 locations in the outer boroughs of New York City, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and in the Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Astoria, Sunnyside, Ozone Park, and Floral Park neighborhoods of Queens, Khan’s Tutorial primarily serves in assisting families in low-income, new immigrant neighborhoods. Since 1994, Khan’s Tutorial has helped 2,986 students gain admission to New York City’s Specialized High Schools.