Students To Be Put To The Test Children Will Have To Prove Skills Before Advancing A Grade

Spokane students soon will have to prove they’ve learned their lessons before moving from one grade to the next.

On Wednesday night, District 81 school board members unanimously approved a policy requiring students to meet certain standards in reading, writing and mathematics.

If they don’t, they may be held back - a practice rarely used in Spokane.

Under the new policy, kids will be evaluated before they’re allowed into grades 4, 7 and 9.

“I see this as a real positive move toward accountability for all of us,” board member Terrie Beaudreau said.

Social promotion - advancing children by age instead of achievement - is a hot topic across the nation. A host of politicians, including President Clinton, have blasted the practice in favor of forcing floundering students to repeat grades.

Spokane educators insist they’ll flunk students only when other catch-up strategies fail. They point to research showing retention often does more harm than good by damaging kids’ self-esteem.

Instead, Spokane students may be required to attend summer school, tutoring sessions or Saturday classes. Individual schools will decide specific plans for handling kids who are falling behind.

“We are going to provide additional help and support for kids who are failing,” board president Christie Querna said.

A pilot program probably will start next school year, with all students being added eventually.

Kids at all schools will be required to meet the same standards, which haven’t been determined. They could include a mix of tests, classroom grades and portfolios of student work.

Parents of elementary and middle school students who are doing poorly will receive quarterly updates, district spokeswoman Terren Roloff said. Parents of third-, sixth- and eighth-graders will receive plans outlining the skills needed to advance.

Not everyone is cheering the policy. Parent Wendy Graham sent a letter to the board suggesting the policy will hurt kids’ self-concept and attitudes toward school.

“I just want to make sure that kids who do not fit into a box are not going to be labeled that they are not smart.”

Some principals worry students would be “restrained across the board.” Others fear good teachers would leave schools in low-income areas where there are more struggling students.

Educators also are concerned about how to get those kids up to speed. Some have suggested a major shift to year-round schools.

Now board members say they’ll meet with teachers and principals to flesh out details of the plan, such as how to evaluate students and how to finance new programs.

“We all concur it’s going to take creativity in finding the resources,” district Superintendent Gary Livingston said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’S NEXT A pilot program will probably start next school year. All students eventually will join the program.