Social Promotion

The Mississippi Department of Education offices are seen in Jackson, Miss. on March 19, 2020. The state's board of education decided this winter that it would suspend the retention policy for third graders this year, allowing all students to pass on to the fourth grade even if they fail the standardized reading test.
The Mississippi Department of Education offices are seen in Jackson, Miss. The state's board of education decided this winter that it would suspend the retention policy for 3rd graders this year, allowing all students to pass on to the 4th grade even if they fail the standardized reading test.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Reading & Literacy Pandemic Prompts Some States to Pass Struggling 3rd Graders
As families wrestle with online learning, a pandemic economy and mental health difficulties, some states are delaying 3rd grade retention.
Aallyah Wright, Stateline.org, June 7, 2021
8 min read
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School Climate & Safety Opinion Schools Are Socially Promoting Students En Masse. What Comes Next?
This crisis may provide the opportunity for a bold paradigm shift in education—but only if we embrace personalization, urges Paul Reville.
Paul Reville, May 21, 2020
5 min read
States In New Mexico, Disagreement About 3rd Grade Reading and 'Social Promotion'
New Mexico is focused on improving 3rd grade reading proficiency, but state and local education officials disagree about whether parents are being adequately informed and whether students are being inappropriately promoted.
Jaclyn Zubrzycki, January 20, 2017
3 min read
Reading & Literacy Opinion There Is No Such Thing as Social Promotion
It seems that the promoters of "kids who fail have to be smacked upside the head with their shortcomings" have hit on a recycled tactical meme every educator is familiar with: using "social promotion" as a boogeyman to drive home the point that some kids just don't deserve to move ahead to a new grade. With their peers and friends.
Nancy Flanagan, September 25, 2016
4 min read
Tabeeka Jordan, a former assistant principal in Atlanta public schools, is led to a holding cell after she was found guilty in the school system’s test-cheating trial last year, along with 10 other former Atlanta educators.
Tabeeka Jordan, a former assistant principal in Atlanta public schools, is led to a holding cell after she was found guilty in the school system’s test-cheating trial last year, along with 10 other former Atlanta educators.
Kent D. Johnson/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP-File
Assessment Studies: When Educators Cheat, Students Suffer
The recent cheating scandals that rocked schools in New York and Georgia exacted a toll on students whose scores were fudged, according to researchers.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 26, 2016
7 min read
Student Achievement Districts Weigh Student Retention With Stigma of Being 'Held-Back'
Many districts, including Los Angeles Unified, are not on board with a national push to end social promotion, and instead use mastery of material to determine whether students should move to the next grade.
Molly Callister & The Hechinger Report, August 19, 2014
11 min read
Education Opinion What About Social Promotion?
With the end of the spring semester rapidly approaching, teachers once again will have to confront the issue of social promotion. For years, research seemed to be on the side of moving students to the next grade whether or not they mastered the material because it showed that holding students back is harmful.
Walt Gardner, April 16, 2012
2 min read
Education Opinion The Opposite of Social Promotion...
Consider that Finnish children begin formal schooling, including reading instruction, at age seven. A single year before Oklahoma, Arizona and Indiana start separating out weak readers by law and labeling them unsuccessful. At age eight.
Nancy Flanagan, February 15, 2012
3 min read
Education Opinion Response: Thoughts On Grade Level Retention & Social Promotion
P.J. Vermont asked:
Larry Ferlazzo, September 13, 2011
5 min read
States Push to End 'Social Promotion' Hits Obstacles in New Mexico
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez's proposal to hold back students in 3rd grade if they can't read at grade level is running into political resistance.
Sean Cavanagh, August 31, 2011
1 min read
School & District Management Chicago's Social Promotion Ban Quietly Fades
since 1996, Chicago Public Schools officials have been weakening the ban on social promotion, making it easier for students to clear the bar even if they are doing poorly academically.
Sarah Karp & Catalyst Chicago, May 11, 2011
15 min read
School & District Management News in Brief N.C. Scrapping Policy Meant to End Social Promotion
North Carolina is dropping a policy that required end-of-the-year exams to ensure students were mastering their grade-level subjects.
The Associated Press, October 18, 2010
1 min read
States Indiana Governor Calls for Ending 'Social Promotion'
Indiana's governor is backing legislation to end "social promotion," but it appears likely to face some serious obstacles.
Erik W. Robelen, January 21, 2010
1 min read
Student Achievement Opinion Social Promotion or Retention?
Teacher Adam Berlin says schools do great harm to young people by not requiring them to earn middle school graduation.
Adam Berlin, October 17, 2008
5 min read