My retort --Thank you for giving me a voice. The conversation is not premature, Ms White, executive director of Educators for Excellence. And we can’t wait around for a “robust data set”. Furthermore, we are “not penalizing students for a situation they did not create” by offering grade retention vs promotion. As educators, your duty is to create the best learning environment for our kids.

These educators also need to stop espousing the outdated view that “holding kids back risks social and academic stigmatization”. Please show me recent research (post pandemic) that grade retention is less successful than “learning acceleration” and “just-in-time” interventions. Who exactly are the ones who are being punitive toward and stigmatizing these children?

The NYC DOE needs to overhaul the education system which is a right of every child to become productive members of our society. Let’s begin by accepting that grade retention is a plausible solution and then help those children succeed wherever they are in their development and academic needs. Let’s acceleratethe conversation and take some action!