Some 1,500 letters marked "urgent" have been mailed to parents of sixth and seventh graders who test more than two years below grade level in reading, alerting them that their children may require accelerated literacy and mathematics classes in 2001-2002 as retained students. An additional 1,700 parents of eighth graders are being notified that their children need specially-designed summer school classes and may be enrolled in special literacy support classes in the ninth grade.

"This is the beginning of the end of social promotion in our district," said Superintendent Alan Bersin.

Social promotion has been the practice in school districts nationwide for years to allow students to move from grade to grade without meeting academic standards, resulting in many cases in student failure and dropouts at the high school level.

The letters strongly urge parents to have their children attend new extended-day summer school classes, where teachers will be provided additional instructional materials and strategies, and smaller class sizes, to help boost student achievement.

If the current sixth graders at middle school and seventh graders in junior high still test at unacceptable reading levels by summer’s end, they will be retained at their present grade level. Beginning in September, they will receive special three-period accelerated literacy classes, with class size ratio of 20:1, additional books and related materials. Teachers will receive extra assistance and targeted professional development. Students will also be offered new courses in either "Science Explorations Through Literacy" or "Art Explorations Through Literacy."

Current eighth graders identified as significantly below grade level in reading are being urged to attend a new special summer school bridging course. The daily six-hour course will include two-hour blocks of instruction in literacy and mathematics at a 20:1 class size ratio. These students will also be able to take two hours of fine arts or physical education to accumulate graduation credits.

In September, these students could likely attend an accelerated three-period literacy core high school course, in order to continue to boost their reading levels and help improve their skills for the state-required High School Exit Examination. Class size ratio will be 20:1, with extra teacher professional development and support.

"This is a major part of what our ongoing Blueprint reforms are all about," Bersin said, "to provide accelerated learning opportunities as part of a system of academic supports to students who require more time in class to get back on track."

Bersin and the Institute For Learning have made retention/acceleration/support programs the highest priority for phase 2 of the Blueprint.

District administrators also estimate that some 500 first graders will be retained in 2001-2002 and placed in accelerated classes with a focus on literacy for between three and four hours. Those classes will be provided additional reading materials, additional professional development for teachers, and additional instructional support from resource teachers.

Blueprint phase 2 calls for retaining students who are reading significantly below grade level in reading after completing the entry level grade in elementary, middle and junior high schools (grades 1 and 6 or 7) and to support more strongly students in grade 9 who are significantly below grade level.