A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Taking Responsibility for Ending Social Promotion: A Guide for Educators and State and Local Leaders — May 1999


Conclusion

Social promotion is an unacceptable response to the problem of low-achieving students in our nation's schools. All of us must take responsibility for ending social promotion and be prepared to ensure that every student achieves to his or her full potential and to the highest standards.

Ending social promotion is not a stand-alone policy that can be adopted and implemented. But it is an important step in sending a message to students about how critical it is for them to meet high standards.

Few, if any, of the recommendations in this guide can, by themselves, meet the challenge of ending social promotion. Ending social promotion requires a comprehensive effort that addresses multiple problems and a variety of student needs. It means setting high standards and measures of accountability for schools and students and taking responsibility for student performance. It also means building the capacity of schools and students to meet those expectations, and intervening to help students who fall behind.

Ending social promotion requires states, districts, and schools to address issues associated with the quality of teachers, the quality of the curriculum and its alignment with standards and assessments, and family support of educational activities. A comprehensive approach to ending social promotion requires early identification and intervention for students with special needs, and effective programs for extending the time and increasing the attention that some students need to meet expectations. It also means encouraging the involvement of more parents in the education of their children at home, in the school, and with the community.

Truly embracing the idea that all children can learn--and making sure that all children do--requires that we all take responsibility for ending social promotion and commit our energy, resources, and best ideas to this effort.



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[Holding Schools Accountable for Performance and Helping Them Improve] [Table of Contents] [U.S. Department of Education's Inventory of Resources for Ending Social Promotion]