End of social promotion policy could be expensive for Detroit

From The Detroit News: A new rule banning social promotion in Detroit Public Schools could balloon the number of students who have been held back a grade and could cost a significant sum to carry out as the district faces a $219 million deficit.

EARLIER from The Detroit Free Press: Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager Robert Bobb says he will sign an order putting an end in the district to social promotion, the practice of advancing students to the next grade when they're not really ready. Bobb faces criticism and resistance from some teachers who say the current testing is designed to ensure that children fail and that Bobb is trying to help dismantle the city school district to make room for charter schools