Judge Tosses Racial Justice Activists’ Bid to End NYC Gifted & Talented Program

Children recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the school day at the federally-funded Head Start school in Woodbourne, New York. Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

New York State Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to end New York City’s Gifted & Talented (G&T) programs for young children, which a racial justice advocacy group accused of exacerbating racial segregation in the city.

The March 2021 suit was brought against New York City in March 2021 by youth group IntegrateNYC on behalf of 13 students, who claimed to be victims of what they called a “caste system” reinforced by the city’s public education system.