A group of New York state senators held a press conference Thursday to ask the public for its help in finding solutions to the diversity problem at New York City’s public schools. They said they will be convening a series of forums in each borough starting next month.

“It is our goal to hear every single voice on this issue,” said John Liu, who chairs the senate's New York City education committee.

The city's most recent public high school admissions numbers have renewed focus on the Specialized High School Admissions Test, or SHSAT. At the eight selective high schools where the test determines admissions, 51 percent of offers went to Asian students, almost 29 percent went to white students, under 7 percent went to Latinx students, and just 4 percent to black students.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has proposed scrapping the test and instead admitting students based on their class rank and performance on statewide tests. But any changes to the SHSAT would have to be approved by lawmakers in Albany, and Liu, for one, has opposed eliminating the test.  He called the mayor’s plan “deeply flawed” partly because the mayor didn't work hard enough to get input and buy-in from the Asian community. The senator said he plans to approach the forums with an open mind.

Sen. Jessica Ramos said the discussions will also look beyond admissions to those eight selective schools to the wider system. “Fewer black and brown children are being admitted to specialized high schools,” she said. “And it opens up the door to the conversation about gifted and talented programs, even special education and how we're allocating resources for these different groups of children.”

The senators would not commit to proposing a new bill this legislative session. “We are looking for the best possible solution and not a quick fix,” said Sen. Velmanette Montgomery.

But Sen. Kevin Parker, who co-sponsored the bill to eliminate the test last year, said he does sense new momentum on the issue. “I think this is the first time any legislative body has taken this on head on,” he said.