The New York City public schools, which in the past two years began holding back 3rd and 5th graders who fail city tests, will extend the promotion policy to 7th graders.
The panel that advises Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on education approved the change on Aug. 15. Beginning this school year, 7th graders who fail city language arts tests will not be promoted. Results of mathematics tests will become an added factor in promotion decisions in the 2006-07 school year.
Mayor Bloomberg has contended that big gains in 2005 scores among 5th graders demonstrated, in part, the effectiveness of the interventions offered as part of the policy.
