The New York City Department of Education provides challenging standards-based instructional practices and highly engaging learning opportunities to children with exceptional capacity or creative talent. Gifted and talented programs are district-based and begin in either kindergarten or first grade, depending on the district or borough. Generally, district gifted and talented programs in Manhattan and Brooklyn begin in kindergarten and programs in the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island begin in the first grade. There are also three citywide gifted and talented schools, which accept students from all five boroughs. Gifted and talented students are identified after a rigorous testing process and...