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Test-Based Promotion

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
News Release

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

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
Content

Content

Louis T. Mariano

Senior Statistician; Head, Statistics Group; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education Ph.D. in statistics, Carnegie Mellon University; M.S. in statistics, Carnegie Mellon University; B.S. in mathematics and statistics, American University
Periodical

Periodical

An Apple a Day

New York extends its grade retention policy, the practice of keeping low-achieving students at the same grade level for an additional year to give them extra time to catch up, as opposed to social promotion, the practice of promoting students regardless of whether they have mastered the grade content.