PLACE NYC, a parent advocacy organization, is urging the Panel for Education Policy (PEP) to approve a contract that will ensure the continuation of the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). The contract is pivotal in shaping the future of admissions to New York City’s eight specialized high schools.
The SHSAT, established by New York State’s 1971 Hecht Calandra Act, is the sole criterion for admission to these prestigious schools. If the PEP fails to approve the contract with Pearson Inc., there will be no mechanism to administer the test, potentially leaving the schools without a freshman class by fall 2026.
“NYC families have gone through major upheaval in high school admissions,” said Yiatin Chu, Co-President of PLACE NYC. “The SHSAT is the one dependable pathway for students to access NYC’s world-renowned Specialized High Schools. We hope the Mayor ensures the SHSAT will be available for 30,000 students who count on the opportunity to take the test.”
The current proposal involves a five-year contract with Pearson, chosen through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process that began in 2023. Originally planned for a vote in October, the decision was postponed to the November 20th meeting but now has been delayed to an indefinite date. If approved, the contract will allow the SHSAT to proceed without disruption, guaranteeing access for thousands of students in 2025 and beyond.
PLACE NYC has launched a campaign urging parents to sign an Open Letter to the PEP and contact borough presidents to support the contract’s approval. The letter stresses the serious consequences of inaction, stating, “Failure to approve the Pearson contract will leave no other means to administer the test.”
Advocates are calling for the preservation of a dependable admissions process, especially given the broader challenges in high school placements. The result of the November 20 vote will determine whether the SHSAT remains a cornerstone of NYC’s specialized high school system.
To learn more or get involved in the campaign, visit PLACE NYC’s website.
