District 15 Parents for Middle School Equity
The PMSE Petition
Community School District 15’s (D15) current system of competitive sorting of children for middle school placement is developmentally inappropriate, inequitable, and results in two tiers of D15 middle schools: one that siphons off a disproportionate number of white, high-scoring and higher income students, and another that serves primarily lower performing and lower income children of color.
The current process of middle school placement in D15 can be a high-stakes proposition for 5th graders and their families, potentially limiting opportunities for children as early as age ten.
We know there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Our goal is to find a more equitable and developmentally appropriate process for middle school placement in D15.
We, the undersigned parents and educators in Brooklyn’s D15, call on the NYC Department of Education to work with our community to explore alternatives for middle school placement in D15 that are developmentally appropriate and equitable.
We ask for a placement method that does not promote sorting and segregating our District’s 10-year olds, but provides opportunity for ALL of our children.
