Albany, New York – Assemblyman David Weprin issued the following statement on the proposed plan to change the admissions process for New York City’s Specialized High Schools:

"I am disappointed to see that the proposal to change the admissions process for New York City’s Specialized High Schools completely eliminates the Specialized High School Admissions Test although I support efforts to increase the diversity of our city’s schools by allowing the admissions process to look at multiple measures of student merit, including the SHSAT and a student’s GPA, as the original bill did. The current version of this bill instead replaces the merit based test with a lottery and quota based system of admission. I would strongly prefer changes that allow for the admissions process to look at different measures of student merit, including a merit based exam and a student’s GPA, as well as proposals that provide students in underrepresented communities expanded access to free test prep and other supports. I look forward to working with the Mayor of the City of New York and my colleagues in the Assembly on a plan that treats all students fairly.”