ERIC Number: ED451268
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2001-Jan
Pages: 19
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Finding Alternatives to Failure: Can States End Social Promotion and Reduce Retention Rates?
Denton, David R.
This paper suggests that since neither grade retention nor social promotion work, there must be an alternative between these two extremes. Successful efforts to end these practices should: identify student problems as early as possible; intervene as soon as problems are identified; design the extra help around each student's needs; and have strong quality controls and monitoring. Data are presented on: what is known about retention rates; variations in state promotion and retention policies; how retention and social promotion leave children behind; Texas' approach to supporting at-risk students; the importance of learning to read in preventing failure; keys to preventing failure; the effect of teacher quality; the need for extra time during the school year for targeted interventions; state policies on grade promotion and retention; one North Carolina county's efforts; the use of continual assessment to prevent failure; getting parents and communities involved; the impact of high quality summer school; what research says about the effects of retention; and the responsibility of schools to help all children succeed. (SM)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Academic Failure, Educational Policy, Elementary Secondary Education, Grade Repetition, High Risk Students, Parent Participation, Reading Skills, Social Promotion, Student Evaluation, Summer Schools, Teacher Competencies
Southern Regional Education Board, 592 10th Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30318 ($2.50 handling fee). Tel: 404-875-9211; Web site: http://www.sreb.org.
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Policymakers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta, GA.
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina; Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A