California Schools Lack Resources To End Social Promotion

The Los Angeles Daily News (3/1, Jones, 91K) reports that a committee comprised of educators and parents studying whether Los Angeles Unified students should be promoted "to the next grade only if they meet academic milestones," decided to indefinitely postpone "any significant change because" the district "lacks the money and personnel to eliminate the practice." This is in spite of a school board resolution "seeking a new policy to promote students to the next grade only if they meet academic milestones." Deputy superintendent of instruction Jaime Aquino, who oversaw the panel's work, said, "We believe that professional development (of teachers) and early intervention (of students) will be more effective." He added, "We don't think that holding a student back will make a difference."