Social Promotion, Retention, and Alternative Possibilities

1. MELS 601 Aldridge and Goldman Ch. 8 Social Promotion, Retention, and Alternative Possibilities

2. Social Promotion • Discuss the effects, positive and negative, of social promotion. • Does this practice still take place in our schools? If so, why?

3. Retention • What are the benefits of retention? • What is your school’s position on retention? • What is your personal position on retention?

4. Seven Alternatives to Social Promotion and Grade Retention • Provide high-quality preschool programs, especially for children at greatest risk for academic failure due largely to starting “way behind” in kindergarten. • Provide teachers with intensive, quality professional development opportunities focused on (a) raising student achievement and (b) meeting the diverse needs of struggling students.

5. Seven Alternatives to Social Promotion and Grade Retention • Provide research-based intervention strategies that meet the individual needs of struggling students. • Looping • Class size reduction • One-on-One Tutoring • Extended Learning Time • Actively address the social needs and provide social support as well as academic assistance for struggling students.

6. Seven Alternatives to Social Promotion and Grade Retention • Develop rigorous, specific, grade-by-grade standards that provide direction for curriculum development and help teachers assess individual learning needs. • Involve parents as team members in improving student performance. • Continue to monitor and provide assistance on an “as-needed” basis to students who graduate from intervention programs.

7. Question • What alternative to retention or social promotion do you believe is the most appropriate? • For what circumstance?