Statement by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
“Tonight the Panel for Educational Policy put an end to the shameful policy of social promotion in elementary and middle school. For far too long students, were promoted from one grade to the next regardless of whether they had learned the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the next grade. By voting today to extend our promotion policy to every grade, the members of the Panel have ensured that students who move forward will be prepared to meet the challenges that lie ahead, and have a much greater chance at being successful throughout their academic careers.”
Statement by Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein
“I applaud the Panel for Educational Policy for their vote to ensure that fourth and sixth grade students, like other students in grades 3-8, are promoted only when they have demonstrated that they are ready to meet the academic challenges of the next grade level. The Department of Education remains committed to providing and improving intervention services and support tools for fourth and sixth grade students who are struggling to meet promotion standards—interventions that have proven successful in other grades under this policy during the past four years. Today’s Panel vote represents a critical step toward providing all of our students with the educational foundation they need to succeed in middle school, graduate from high school, and thrive in college and careers.”