How do I talk to my child about being held back in school?

In the case of ability I would say to them to keep trying and that everyone learns things at a different rate. I would explain that the material they haven't mastered yet is going to be important in their future learning so they need to learn that before they can move on.

How do I talk to my child about being held back?

Your child may struggle to understand why they can't be in the same class with their friends or why they aren't in the same seat as last year. You can say things like, “You're going to have so much fun with {teacher's name} this year!” or point out exciting things in the classroom.

What to do when your child gets held back?

If the school suggests that your child repeat a year, it's a good idea to sit down with the teacher to find out why. You can also ask what changes would be made in the ways your child is taught if repeating a grade. It's important to have a plan in place that you believe will help your child succeed.

What is the most common grade to get held back?

Who Gets Held Back, and Why? Most retentions occur in elementary school. Historically, roughly 5 percent of students in the first through the third grade repeated their grade, according to Child Trends.

Who decides if a student gets held back?

Who gets the final say? In California, it's the schools. California's Pupil Promotion & Retention policy in the state education code says a student can be promoted if the teacher decides retention isn't appropriate even if the student is failing.

Is Holding Back Your Child Fair?

Can you move up a grade after being held back?

It can happen and occasionally does. Sometimes a student is retained for one reason or another and then gets up to speed and they are at the level of the next grade level. So they will bump the student back up a grade if the school and parents agree upon it.

Can your parents choose if you get held back?

Usually the school will advise the parents to consider holding the child back unless they can catch up to where their peers are. However if the parents feel like the child isn't ready for the next grade level they can request to hold the child back.

How do I talk to my child about repeating a grade?

If your child gets held back a grade in school, it's important to approach the situation with empathy and understanding. You can reassure them that everyone learns and progresses at their own pace, and that it's okay to take the time they need to fully understand the material.

Does being held back in school help?

The research is clear that grade retention is not effective over time, and it is related to many negative academic, social, and emotional outcomes for students — especially students of color who have been retained.

How many times can a kid get held back?

Is there a law or policy regarding the number of times a student can be retained? There is nothing in the EC that prohibits school districts from retaining a child in more than one grade. Some districts' PPR policies prohibit students from repeating more than one elementary grade.

Why repeating a grade is bad?

High-profile meta-analyses based on these studies concluded that grade retention was associated with poorer academic outcomes (including higher dropout rates) and greater risk of behavioral issues.

Does holding a child back in school help?

The long-run effects of early grade retention are not clear.

Multiple studies have found that holding back middle schoolers increases their odds of dropping out of high school. “The evidence on retaining students in the later grades — I think that's unambiguously negative,” said Winters.

Who has been held back the most in school?

In some cases, the consequences of retention affect students of color more than their white peers, too. One recent study found that being held back in elementary grades increases the odds of dropping out of high school, and that these effects were strongest for Black and Latino girls.

When should a child repeat a grade?

Kids who've missed a lot of school due to illness, emotional trauma or a move may benefit from repeating a grade. A child who's just been absent often is already at higher risk for dropping out of school. Repeating a grade increases the risk.

What causes you to repeat a grade?

There are a variety of reasons why a child might repeat a grade, including academic struggles, emotional or behavioral issues, and learning disabilities.

Is it better to hold a child back in kindergarten?

A large body of research has indicated that holding a child back in school is associated with poorer academic outcomes and little social-emotional benefit. While some studies have found short-term social and academic benefits of grade retention, many of these effects fade after a few years.

Should struggling students repeat a grade?

Ideally, no. Repeating a grade―also known as "grade retention" ―has not been shown to help children learn. Children won't outgrow learning and attention issues by repeating a grade. In fact, repeating a grade may contribute to long-term issues with low self-esteem, as well as emotional or social difficulties.

How many kids get held back a year?

Nearly 450,000 first through eighth graders are retained each year.

What are the negative effects of retaining students?

Critics of retention contend that students are actually harmed by the trauma of being held back, the challenge of adjusting to a new peer group, and reduced expectations for their academic performance on the part of teachers and parents.

Can my parents make me repeat a grade?

Generally, parents can ask for children to be held back, but the final decision is up to principals, who make decisions based on factors including academic progress. California and New Jersey also passed laws that made it easier for parents to demand their children repeat a grade, although the option was only available ...

Can a school force a child to repeat a grade?

Most often, schools consider holding students back if they haven't developed the academic skills necessary to succeed in the next grade. In fact, some states have passed “third-grade retention laws,” that require third-grade students who can't read at a certain level must be retained and repeat the grade.

How do I talk to my child about failing grades?

Discuss, don't lecture!

Instead, ask this question: "What do you think happened, and does this reflect the work you put into it?" Your child will likely point you to the problem and the solution. Does the teacher talk too fast? A recorder could help.

Why do parents hold you back in school?

This choice is also often called holding your child back in school, which may be done as early as preschool or kindergarten. It's also done for non-athletic reasons, such as if a child doesn't seem emotionally ready for school. Holding kids back to give them extra time to mature cognitively and socially is nothing new.

Why hold a child back in school?

When kids haven't built the academic skills needed for the next grade, the school may advise holding them back. The idea is that an extra year will help them catch up. But sometimes a child's academic struggles are just one factor that the school is considering.