Austin Independent School District's (AISD's) elementary promotion/retention policy is designed to promote the full development of learners' potential and accommodate individual needs. It requires that all those at least one year behind in reading basals (grades 1-6) or math competencies (grades 4-6) be considered for retention. AISD tries to help retainees and potential retainees through summer school, inservice training for teachers, Project PASS (designed to improve Black students' achievement), and other programs. The retention rate doubled after publication of the new policy in 1981, but has declined since then. Retainees' success was judged by the opinions of parents, the opinions of teachers, and gains in reading scores on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. At least two of the three sources agreed that the student was a success as a retainee in 79 percent of the 121 cases. Only four percent were considered unsuccessful by all three sources. (BW)