The NYC DOE teachers and administrators are measured on promotion and graduation rates in their schools. During the 2019/20 school year,  high school students, who were not equipped to handle and/or didn't perform in remote or blended learning environments, were promoted to the next grade after attending 60% of in-school learning before the pandemic and receiving NX (no credit) for core courses at the end of the school year. In order for these students to not fall further behind, these students should not be promoted to the next grade for the 2021/22 school year if they receive NX (no credit) for the core courses- ELA, math, and science. 

The high schools have been very determined to maintain promotion rates by requiring teachers to work during their free time in order to get students to complete minimal course work through mandatory remote attendance on weekends and during winter/spring recess to receive a passing grade. However, these students need a full-time classroom setting in order to learn and perform.  If these students are promoted to the next grade for the 2021/22 school year without demonstrating competency in core courses, then they will endure greater stress and anxiety in having to complete the required number of credits in less time for the remaining tenure of their high school. 

High school students who receive NX (no credit) for two years in a row should not be required to go to Summer School and should repeat the 2020/21 school year beginning in Fall’2021. These students should not be stigmatized and rather be lauded by DOE for recognizing their learning needs during this unprecedented time. It does not benefit any student, teacher or classroom, as a whole, to promote these students to the next grade.