WHEREAS, the Alabama State Board of Education supports learning at high levels; and
 
WHEREAS, the Alabama State Board of Education acknowledges that in many school systems the practice exists of socially promoting students to higher grades when the students have not acquired the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the higher grades; and
 
WHEREAS, in December 1999 the Alabama State Board of Education requested that the policy of social promotion be examined and recommendations be made concerning its use; and
 
WHEREAS, the Alabama State Board of Education appointed thirty-two (32) members to the Social Promotion/Retention Committee, composed of classroom teachers, administrators, local board of education members, and representatives from higher education and from child advocacy organizations; and
 
WHEREAS, the Social Promotion/Retention Committee has performed an extensive review of the research on social promotion and retention practices and has examined programs and practices in other states that have addressed this issue; and
 
WHEREAS, the Social Promotion/Retention Committee has utilized its research and program reviews to make recommendations to the Alabama State Board of Education for addressing the policy of social promotion and has submitted a systemic plan of action for implementing the recommendations on a statewide basis; and
 
WHEREAS, the Social Promotion/Retention Committee recommendations and plan define a four-front approach to address social promotion based upon the best research available that targets academic support, parental support and involvement, benchmarks and gateways, and staff development; and
 
WHEREAS, the State Board of Education commends the members of the Social Promotion/Retention Committee for their dedication and work in developing recommendations and a plan of action that addresses the needs of Alabama’s students; and
 
WHEREAS, the State Superintendent of Education recommends approval:
 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby endorse the Social Promotion/Retention Committees’ recommendations and plan of action that were submitted to the Alabama State Board of Education as a framework for addressing low student achievement in the state of Alabama and encourage funding for a pilot program only in the 2001-2002 scholastic year. (Comments added for clarification of Board adoption: The Board by adopting this resolution is agreeing to a pilot program and is deleting the word “endorse” and pursuing the pilot program as recommended.)