[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 401 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         June 16, 1998.
Whereas high student achievement and academic advancement are vitally important 
        to our Nation's schools and the future success of America's workforce;
Whereas some pupils proceed through school without having mastered the knowledge 
        and skills required of them, and graduate from high school ill-equipped 
        to handle college-level work or obtain an entry-level job;
Whereas ``social promotion'', the practice of moving pupils from one grade to 
        the next regardless of whether they have the knowledge and skills 
        necessary for the next level, is one reason for a pupil's inadequate 
        academic achievement levels;
Whereas research has shown that retention, the customary alternative policy to 
        social promotion, is also an inadequate response to the problem in that 
        pupils are usually presented with the same instructional practices and 
        materials that were ineffective the first time around;
Whereas to help underachieving students learn, it is essential that policies and 
        programs address the underlying causes of failure and rectify the 
        problems through various proven instruction practices;
Whereas high-quality teacher training and education, and other proven practices 
        will provide our teachers with the tools necessary to educate our 
        Nation's children and work toward high academic achievement by students;
Whereas social promotion policies already have been abolished in Louisiana, 
        Arkansas, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, West 
        Virginia, and in Chicago, Illinois, Portsmouth, Virginia, Long Beach, 
        California, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and
Whereas the abolishment of social promotion policies have been proposed in 
        California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Delaware, Texas, Oklahoma, New York, 
        Washington, D.C., and in Boston, Massachusetts, and Philadelphia, 
        Pennsylvania: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) ending social promotion should be addressed in America 
        through a coordinated effort by government officials, teachers, 
        and parents committed to high academic achievement of students;
            (2) State Education Agencies and local educational agencies 
        that receive Federal funds should make every effort to address 
        and end social promotion;
            (3) the problems associated with social promotion can be 
        resolved effectively through a commitment to provide high-
        quality training and education for our teachers, and the use of 
        other proven practices; and
            (4) States should adopt high, rigorous standards and 
        standards-based assessments aimed at requiring academic 
        accountability with the specific aim of ending social promotion 
        and raising student achievement.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.