Garden City Parents and Residents - Please sign this petition and let the school district's decision-makers know that canceling Quest is NOT what the Garden City community wants.

Our school district (BOE and Dr. Sinha) supports eliminating Quest, a program for accelerated elementary-aged kids in our district, in favor of a “Quest for all” push-in to the regular classroom.  Quest-like enrichment should be available for all students, but it cannot be a substitute for truly differentiated instruction.  Quest and programs like it lift up the entire district, and provide critical support for our top students. (For more information on the value of gifted programs, please visit https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/gifted-education-practices/why-are-gifted-programs-needed

Quest students need differentiated instruction not only for academic success, but for social/emotional support.  Without this support, we risk losing these kids due to a disinterest in school and learning, social and emotional problems, isolation, never learning about failure and resilience, and more.  This is especially important for those students who are twice exceptional (e.g., gifted and ADHD or anxiety) and have a harder time in a traditional classroom.  

My family moved to GC because of its high-rated school system - we are so disappointed the district would not continue to support the needs of all our children.  We can't let our top students slip through the cracks - on the contrary, we should be maximizing their chances for success. These are often the students representing our community in science and other academic competitions and at top colleges and universities across the country. 

Neighboring, competitive districts offer programs that provide an appropriately challenging curriculum for gifted students.  Parents frustrated by the district’s disregard for its high-achieving kids are choosing to leave our schools in favor of private schools or neighboring districts.  This will have a lasting impact on our standing as a top-ranked public school and should concern all Garden City residents.

Please sign and let the school administrators know our kids deserve QUEST!