During the discussion, which featured elected officials, educators, advocates and audience Q&A, Banks spoke out against the SHSAT. “We’re the only city in the nation that has one single test for admission to specialized schools,” he said. “This is a system right now that doesn’t even care about your grades… It really makes no sense.”
Banks said he spoke to then-mayor Adams about the lack of diversity while he was chancellor, and suggested changing admissions criteria, but inaction followed. “I went to the mayor, and he would not do it. I’m just being real. But you gotta understand, he’s a politician.”