Promotion Policy

The NYC Department of Education established Chancellor’s Regulation A-501 to end social promotion and ensure that students who are promoted are prepared academically for the next grade level.   The promotion policy is as follows for each grade:

English Language Learners

For all grades except grade 8: English Language Learners (ELLs) enrolled for fewer than two years are exempt from the promotion standards.  ELLs enrolled for two to three years will be evaluated based on a comprehensive assessment of students’ class work, test results, and attendance.   ELLs enrolled for four or more years who do not have an approved extension of services will be evaluated based on standard promotion criteria.

For grade 8: ELLs enrolled for fewer than two years must pass core academic subjects.  ELLs enrolled for two and three years must pass core academic subjects, achieve a Level 2 or above on the State Mathematics assessment, and demonstrate gains in English Language Arts State assessments (State ELA assessment or NYSESLAT).  All ELLs enrolled for four or more years will be evaluated based on standard promotion criteria.

Special Education Students

Students in all grades with “standard promotion criteria” listed on page 9 of their IEP are subject to the promotion criteria listed above.  Students with “modified promotion criteria” on page 9 of their IEP will be evaluated based on these stated criteria.

Promotion Review Process for Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

For all grade 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 students who score Level 1 on either the State English Language Arts (ELA) or Mathematics assessments, there is an appeal process that provides for an automatic, mandatory review of student work. Teachers will create a portfolio for each student, which may include standard math work, leveled books from the classroom library or a standard reading passage, writing sample(s), and standards-based class work. Using standard criteria, teachers will indicate whether the student’s work is comparable to Level 2 and submit the portfolio to the principal for review.  The portfolio is then reviewed by the principal to confirm that the student’s portfolio shows evidence of comparable Level 2 work. If that criterion is met, the principal forwards the portfolio to the Community Superintendent for consideration. The Community Superintendent makes the final promotion decision.

Additionally, students may take the summer citywide test in the required subject(s) in August and may be promoted if they achieve Level 2 or higher on the required test(s). 

For grade 8 students who fail a core course, there is no automatic appeal.  However, students are given the opportunity to attend summer school to pass the required course(s) for promotion to the next grade.

Parent Appeals

Parents also may submit an appeal in writing to their principal at any time after they are notified in June that their child does not yet meet promotion standards. However, a parent appeal will be considered by the principal and Community Superintendent after summer school has been completed and students have had an additional opportunity to meet the required promotion criteria.

As part of the Parent Appeal process in August, parents may review their child’s portfolio with the principal or the Community Superintendent in order to understand better how their child’s work was assessed.