Is it bad for a child to repeat a grade?

Grade retention has a negative impact on all areas of a child's achievement (reading, math, and language) and social-emotional adjustment (peer relationships, self-esteem, problem behaviors and attendance). Students who are retained are more likely to drop out of school compared to students who were never retained.

How does repeating a grade affect a child?

Perhaps even more concerning, holding a student back tends to affect a child's social and emotional development. In Healthy Children, Laura McGuinn, a professor of pediatrics, notes that kids think repeating a grade is stressful, especially if they're one of the older or bigger kids in the class.

Is it shameful to repeat a grade?

No one wants to repeat a grade, but if this happens to you, you're not the only one. Repeating a grade can be the right thing, though, because you get another chance to complete the work and learn what you need to know to do well when you do move up to the next grade.

Is it bad to hold your child back a grade?

Students who are held back experience negative academic, social, and emotional outcomes over time. In general, students who are retained score better on math and English standardized tests during the year they repeat a grade and sometimes up to four years after.

How do you know if your child should repeat a grade?

The biggest factors to consider when deciding whether to promote or retain a child in school are the child's academic progress and level of maturity. Many school districts have developed tests to evaluate these factors, but as a parent you may wish to consider your child's abilities as well.

Is Holding Back Your Child Fair?

What are the negative effects of repeating grades?

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.

What causes a student 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. I was smart and got good grades, but there was one class that I failed: trigonometry. I simply couldn't grasp the concepts in the time permitted.

Should I punish my kid for bad grades?

My experience aligns with research data that points to punishment for bad grades as an ineffective intervention. In fact, it can even be counterproductive. Instead of punishment, I highly encourage you to look at alternatives if you want to motivate your teen.

How do you talk to a child about being held back 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.

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.

Is repeating a grade traumatic?

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.

Why students should not repeat a grade?

Kids who will be taught the same skills in the same way without any different supports in place typically don't benefit from repeating. And kids who stay back tend to lose the positive gains within two to three years after being held back.

Why not to repeat a grade?

It may lead to more problems

Children who have been retained display more problems with peer conflict, aggression, and academic motivation. They are also more likely to drop out of school. While it is not clear that retention causes these issues, it certainly does not make them better.

How many times can a child repeat a grade?

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.

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 ...

Does repeating a class look bad?

Does repeating classes look bad on your transcript? Repeating a college class might not look bad on your transcript because some colleges will replace the bad grade with your new grade after you retake the class. While some colleges will show both grades on your transcript.

What is the most common grade to get held back?

Approximately 5% of first through third graders in the U.S. get held back a grade. The goal is to give the child a second chance at a grade they found challenging, so they can be better equipped in years to come.

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.

What are the benefits of grade retention?

Retaining students based on reading proficiency can produce large improvements in academic performance when compared to grade-level peers. Retention is not an academic death sentence. In fact, it can lead to better preparation when entering high school.

What grade is hardest for kids?

Many educators and parents believe that the transition from third to fourth grade is the most challenging for students. This is because students are expected to develop more independent learning skills, take on more complex assignments, and start preparing for standardized tests.

Should parents be strict about grades?

Create a healthy, positive environment where you hold realistic expectations of your kids. “Children tend to thrive when they feel emotionally safe and feel the adults in their lives actually believe in them,” Sweitzer says. Criticizing them for their grades does just the opposite.

Are bad grades embarrassing?

Bad grades can be embarrassing and it's probably not something that your child wants to tell you about immediately. Be sure your child knows that, while you dislike the grade, you love them. Acknowledge other areas that your child is excelling in and praise them for that.

What is it called when a student repeats a grade?

Most parents expect their child to pass from one grade to the next with their classmates. Passing is also known as promotion, and repeating a grade is often called retention.

How many people repeat a grade?

In 2015–2016, 7% of U.S. kids between the ages of 6 and 17 — 3. 4 million children total — had repeated one or more grades since starting kindergarten. The likelihood that students are held back varies by location. Generally speaking, kids in the South are more likely than their mountain state peers to repeat a grade.

What to do when repeating a grade?