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Does each school take one policy? Social promotion or retention? Does every state have to pick one policy? Is that why it is such an controversial topic? (Cutefuzziebear)
Education policy in the U.S. is generally the responsibility of each state. So, at the first cut, yes, each state sets it own policy. In reality, states typically allow school districts to decide on such matters, which is why Chicago and New York City schools were able to, on their own, change their policies in this area without other school districts in the state doing so.
And no, it's not controversial because of that. It's controversial (this is my sense of the world; I could be wrong) because conservatives have argued "social promotion" is a wishy-washy policy that liberals have implemented because they're not willing to be tough and MAKE kids learn, while liberals (and others) argue that an extreme policy on retention not only doesn't "MAKE" kids learn, it hurts their progress, and that there are studies that so prove. (For the issue of whether scientific studies make any difference in a controversy, see, for example, DARE.) John Broughton20:41, 5 August 2006 (UTC)
