AFTER RELEASING THE FIRST NATIONAL STUDY on student promotion policies, American Federation of Teachers President Sandra Feldman declared that the practice of promoting students to the next grade before they are ready is "rampant across the country."

The report, Passing on Failure: District Promotion Policies and Practices, examined promotion policies in 85 school districts nationwide, including the 40 largest districts. It found that while no school district explicitly endorses social promotion, most have "an implicit policy" encouraging social promotion because they place limits on holding students back.

And why are some schools effective at educating most students, even those from disadvantaged high-poverty areas, while others struggle fruitlessly to fulfill their academic mission? How can schools replicate the successes of their more effective counterparts? Find out by reading Four Promising Programs for Raising School Achievement.

What's your opinion? Tell us your thoughts about social promotion.