Retention and Social Promotion

Social Promotion and Retention

Social Promotions.  This is the time of year when teachers and administrators begin to evaluate the work of under performing student and discuss the possibility of retaining a student  the  previous grade or “socially promoting “ the student to next higher grade without having met the  benchmarks necessary for promotion. Retention and social promotion have been hot button issues for decades dividing academicians into opposing camps.

One of the issues regarding retention is student performance on state level assessment testing. “The National Research Council recently summarized research, concluding that low performing students who are held back because of their test scores do less well academically and are far likelier to drop out than comparably achieving students who moved ahead in school with grade retention increasing the odds of dropping out…” (from The Flat World and Education by Linda Darling Hammond, p76)

Social promotion is now banned in Detroit. Many other cities and states are considering ending social promotions. Statistical information does not usually present positive pictures of social promotions being successful. There are several issues that need to be addressed when considering either socially promoting a student or retaining him or her in a previous grade.

 (See http://www.educationreport.org/ubs/mer/article.aspx?id=12135)

Things to consider when contemplating retention or social promotion of a student.

1)      It is critical to have parent involvement. Their input is very important. They must buy into whatever plan you come up with.

2)      Rule out a specific learning disability. A non- diagnosis or misdiagnosis would be catastrophic to a student education and their social well being.

3)      Review other options. Extended school year or summer school may be an option depending on the school. However many districts have eliminated summer schools due to budget cuts.

4)      What does the student want? Are they willing to agree to the terms of retention or a social promotion?

5)      How has the school dealt with retained or socially promoted students in the past? Is there a plan for remediation or are school setting student up for further failure?

6)      Are the reasons for retention academic or social?

Please see http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/health/659-repeating-a-grade.gs