Panel Votes To End Eighth Grade Social Promotion by Michael Meehan - NY1

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A panel with eight mayoral votes on it, voted 11-1 Monday night in favor of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to end so-called social promotion in the eighth grade.

Under the plan, students who fail either their eighth grade reading or math tests, or social studies or science class must attend summer school. If they pass the summer classes, they go on to high school. But, if they fail again, they must repeat the eighth grade.

A similar policy is already in place for third, fifth, and seventh graders.

Before the vote, community members and advocates, including members of the Coalition of Educational Justice, shouted for the vote to be pushed back.

Last year, the city says 18,000 out of 77,000 eight graders failed their classes. Advocates say it's not fair to punish students for the city's failings.

"When you look at outcomes of middle schools in this city, they're deplorable. So we're punishing kids for the failure of their schools," said Norm Fruchter of the Coalition for Educational Justice.

The protest grew so loud that Schools Chancellor Joel Klein issued a warning.

"Security is now advising if this continues, we'll evacuate," he said.

But the protest continued, prompting Klein to clear the room twice, before finally canceling the meeting altogether.

"It's a shame these sham policies are going forth in the name of reform," said city school parent Ernesto Maldonado.

The one vote against the policy came from the Manhattan borough president's appointee.

"The policy to hold kids back is the most damaging and expensive thing we could do," said appointee Patrick Sullivan.

Klein later met with reporters and said holding back kids who fail has worked in the third, fifth and seventh grades, and that parents want that in the eighth grade too.

"This will be a catalyst for improved performance, and the parents of this city will recognize that," he said.

The new policy takes effect in September with incoming eighth graders. In June 2009, if they don't pass their classes, they face the prospect of having to repeat the eighth grade.