The phenomenon of social promotion seemed impossible to grasp. Teachers and parents have lamented the practice for years, watching as students were moved to the next grade level even though their scores in key subjects didn't merit their advancement. Still, no one could say how widespread the problem was. No one had found a way to quantify it. Last summer, a team of Arizona Daily Star reporters decided to try. Based on a tip from an educator who had seen the problems caused by social promotion firsthand, the reporters began asking questions: Just how rampant is this practice? How ...

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