The law allowed for exceptions to the retention policy if a student had limited English
proficiency or a severe disability, scored above the 51st percentile on the Stanford - 9
standardized test, had demonstrated
proficiency through a performance portfolio, or had already been held back for two years.
The law mandated that every child in every school would take
standardized tests in reading and math from grades three
through eight and would achieve «
proficiency» by the year 2014.