In this session, moderator, Kelly Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Barksdale Reading Institute, provided us with some historical context of the debate around retention and promotion in the U.S. education system and in particular the negative impact on children of color. She offered some examples of alternatives to retention that address supports for children who are not meeting benchmarks. Butler challenged us to think about intervening far earlier than third grade and to view retention policies as adult-focused rather than as child-focused. These policies and legislative efforts have raised the accountability bar for the education systems in numerous states.

Next, Kymyona Burk, Ed.D., Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd, discussed the policy landscape of retention legislation across the United States and shared some specific examples from a number of states. Burk also discussed the current research into retention, highlighting some of the positive impacts in states where retention policies have been implemented. Burk also brought specific insights into the state of Mississippi where she has worked and has insight into the educational landscape.

We then had a robust discussion with a panel of state experts, including Todd Collins with the Reading Coalition of California; Shavonne Gibson Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Washington, DC; and Cari Miller, Vice Chancellor for Literacy Achievement, Florida Department of Education. Each of our panelists provided an overview of the current policy and practice landscape in their state and the District of Columbia. The panelists addressed how COVID-19 specifically has impacted learning loss and if there has been any change in retention or promotion policies because of the pandemic. Of particular interest has been the role of parents in decision-making around promotion, there was considerable discussion around parent decision-making, and Burk noted in her remarks how parents are informed and included in decisions in specific states. The panel fielded a number of questions from the audience throughout the conversation.