For Immediate Release

DOE to extend social promotion policy to 4th and 6th grades

Aug 10, 2009 5:07 PM

Mayor Bloomberg on Aug. 10 unveiled plans to enhance the DOE’s social promotion policy by including 4th and 6th graders. Students in those grades — like their peers in 3rd, 5th, 7th and 8th grades — will now have to score Level 2 or above on state math and ELA exams in order to be promoted.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew offered this response to the plan:

We all want students to move forward on a positive life trajectory, and ending social promotion is a goal that we all share. Adding the fourth and sixth grades to the city's promotion policy is clearly a step in the right direction. But we also need to ensure that effective support and intervention services are in place and available for under-achieving students. It is critical that we provide adequate resources so that these students have every opportunity to keep up with their peers.