Failing Georgia—The Case Against the Ban on Social Promotion

Authors

  • Donald R. Livingston LaGrange College
  • Sharon M. Livingston Georgia State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v10n49.2002

Keywords:

Academic Failure, Black Students, Court Litigation, Elementary Secondary Education, High Stakes Tests, Poverty, Race, Social Promotion, State Legislation

Abstract

Our analysis begins with an examination of the state of Georgia's rationale for the decision regarding social promotion that was based on the perceived views that teachers have on the issue. Research suggests, however, that teachers hold contradictory opinions concerning the use of standardized tests for high stakes decisions, such as promotion, and are not aware of the consequences most children suffer when they fail a grade. Following a discussion that challenges the claims of success in Chicago, Baltimore, and Texas, we explore the viability of choosing litigation as a strategy to stop the use of high stakes tests given the adverse impact they have on protected minorities. From a study of the thirty-nine poorest counties in rural Georgia, the relationships between poverty, race and the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test Results suggest that these tests do have an enormously disparate impact on impoverished African American children. Because chances for educational attainment will be severely limited by this test, most African American children will be discouraged from achieving a high school diploma. As a way to put a face on the data, a case study of a young girl who would probably fail her grade in school if the law was enforced is presented followed by recommendations that argue for changes in education policy and teaching. Rather than mandate a ban on social promotion, the state of Georgia should pursue improvement of socio-economic conditions, education policy and pedagogy.

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Author Biographies

Donald R. Livingston, LaGrange College

Don Livingston is an Assistant Professor in the Education Department at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. Don completed his doctorate at Georgia Southern University in Curriculum Studies in 2000.

Sharon M. Livingston, Georgia State University

Sharon is a doctoral fellow at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia where she is pursuing the Ph. D. in Educational Policy Studies. Their research interests include student performance, retention policy and teacher quality. They are presently engaged in research that examines the relationships between teacher educational levels and student achievement in high poverty rural counties in Georgia.

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Published

2002-12-06

How to Cite

Livingston, D. R., & Livingston, S. M. (2002). Failing Georgia—The Case Against the Ban on Social Promotion. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 10, 49. https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v10n49.2002

Issue

Section

Articles