Dear Members of the PEP,

We urge you to approve the contract with Pearson Inc. to provide the test used to admit NYC students to the eight Specialized High Schools.

The Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) is the sole method for determining admissions to New York City’s Specialized High Schools as enshrined by New York State’s 1971 Hecht Calandra Act. Failure to approve the Pearson contract will leave no other means to administer the test. As such, eight NYC high schools will be without a freshman class starting in the fall of 2026.  

Please approve the Pearson contract so that 30,000 NYC students will continue to have the opportunity to take the SHSAT, without disruption.

Thank you.

cc: Mayor Eric Adams, Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos