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Test-Based Promotion

Journal Article
Think Again: Is Grade Retention Bad for Kids?
In this brief, we provide a review of recent literature on the causal effects of student grade retention and present three policy recommendations for those considering grade retention policies.
Oct 23, 2023
Report
Changes in School Composition During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for School-Average Interim Test Score Use
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacerbated concerns about using school-aggregate test scores to monitor school performance. In this report, researchers investigate how changes to school composition may contaminate aggregate scores.
Jan 19, 2022
Report
Adapting Course Placement Processes in Response to COVID-19 Disruptions: Guidance for Schools and Districts
Because of the pandemic, spring 2020 end-of-year assessments were canceled and schools began the 2020-2021 year without assessment data. The authors compare three strategies to estimate missing test scores and help with course placement decisions.
Feb 16, 2021
Research Brief
How Does Repeating a Grade Impact High School Persistence and Behavior?
New York City grade retention policies had little influence on student misbehavior and absenteeism. But retained students averaged fewer high school credits. Retention in earlier grades appears less likely to produce disadvantageous outcomes.
Jul 30, 2018
Report
Competency-Based Programs Are an Innovative Approach to Higher Education
Among other benefits, competency-based education programs have the potential to increase the alignment between graduate skills and employer needs, as well as address degree-completion rates by offering new pathways to students.
Oct 22, 2015
Commentary
Exploring New Approaches to Higher Education: The Expansion of Competency-Based Programs
Policymakers and educators must determine if the risks of maintaining the status quo outweigh the potential benefits of competency-based programs, especially for those students who are ill-served by the traditional higher education model.
Sep 29, 2015
Infographic
Smoke Alarm: Clocking in Could Prove Hazardous to a Teen's Health
A teen who starts working for pay while still in school may be more than 8 times as likely to report tobacco use than peers who don't start working while in school.
May 20, 2014
News Release
New York City's School Promotion and Retention Policy Shows Positive Results for Students
The New York City Department of Education's test-based promotion and retention policy, which identifies and provides support for struggling students, has demonstrated positive effects for student achievement in fifth grade that continue into seventh grade.
Oct 15, 2009
Research Brief
Ending Social Promotion in New York City Public Schools Without Leaving Children Behind
RAND researchers conducted a three-year study of New York City's promotion policy, using interviews, case studies, student surveys, and demographic and test score data to determine its effects on the outcomes of 5th-grade students held to the policy.
Oct 9, 2009
Report
Ending Social Promotion Without Leaving Children Behind: The Case of New York City
The New York City Department of Education's test-based promotion and retention policy, which identifies and provides support for struggling students, has demonstrated positive effects for student achievement in fifth grade that continue into seventh grade.
Sep 29, 2009
Multimedia
Ending Social Promotion: Examining the Effects of NYC's 5th-Grade Promotion Policy
In this Congressional Briefing held on October 19, 2009, researchers Jennifer McCombs and Lou Mariano discuss RAND's recently published evaluation of a test-based promotion policy implemented by the New York City Department of Education. The findings will be of interest as many states and school districts are implementing test-based requirements for promotion at key transitional points in students' schooling careers, thus ending the practice of promoting students who have failed to meet academic standards and requirements for that grade.
Jan 19, 2009
Research Brief
The Use and Misuse of Test Scores in Reform Debate
Sort out how the reform debate has used test scores, what has really happened to them and why, and what the answers imply for future debate.
Jan 1, 1994
People
Louis T. Mariano
People
Umut Ozek