Outrage over acceptance numbers at New York City's specialized high schools has revived the debate, yet again, about the admissions test, the SHSAT. What's different this time is that a group of state lawmakers who actually have the power to eliminate the test are taking on the issue, starting with a series of community forums that kick off Thursday night. 

State Senator John Liu has said the goal is to hear "every single voice" in order to inform potential legislation. He recently called Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to eliminate the test and admit the top 7 percent of students at schools across the city "racist" — because the administration did not engage the Asian community enough in formulating the proposal. Asian students received just over half the initial offers to the specialized schools in March.

"The mayor believes we need an education system that gives every child the opportunity to succeed no matter their background or whether they can ace a single test," said spokesperson Jaclyn Rothenberg in response to Liu's comment. The mayor has acknowledged he could have done more outreach on his specialized high school proposal.

Although the debate about a single-test admissions policy for these schools has gone on for decades, lawmakers said there's more momentum now, both to reconsider the test and confront segregation more generally.

Both pro- and anti-SHSAT groups said it's important to think broadly and promote integration across the school system. 

"We acknowledge that it is a segregated system," said Stuyvesant High School alumni president Soo Kim, who is in favor of the SHSAT. "Everyone should get in the room ... to talk about what the root causes are and what the solutions could be."

Brandon St. Luce, a sophomore at Edward R. Murrow High School and a member of the student advocacy group Teens Take Charge, said it's time to eliminate the test, but it's also important to keep the big picture in mind.

"One test shouldn't make or break someone's future," he said. "But specialized high schools are a small part of a system that needs to be diversified and equitable for all of its students."

Student activists from across the city have called for other reforms as well, including eliminating all screened, gifted and talented programs and district preference.

The first of the community forums is at Queens Borough Hall from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.