Is it beneficial to hold a child back a grade?

Recent research shows that, for the most part, holding kids back a grade isn't the best practice. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) reports that some kids do better in school the first year or two after being held back. But it also says that this effect doesn't last.

Is grade retention harmful to children?

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.

What grade do kids get held back the most?

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.

What are the benefits of holding a child back in school?

Holding kids back to give them extra time to mature cognitively and socially is nothing new. Redshirting in kindergarten has been studied for decades, and in truth kids who are a bit older than the norm do tend to excel both academically and athletically compared with their younger peers.

What are the benefits of repeating a grade?

It can be a better fit emotionally and age-wise. Kids who are already the oldest in their grade will be almost two years older than the rest of the class. For kids who are developmentally immature (either physically or emotionally), repeating a grade may reduce the stress of trying to “keep up.”

Virtual learning struggles, should you hold your child back a grade

What are the downsides of repeating a grade?

Repeating a grade prior to entering high school increases the chance of a student dropping out. Students of color are at the greatest risk of being retained in any community — urban, suburban, or rural. Achievement gains associated with retention fade within two to three years after the grade repeated.

What are the pros and cons of repeating a grade?

While research has not supported long-term benefits of retention, it has been correlated with increased social, emotional, and behavioral concerns. 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.

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.

Should you retain your child in school?

Some teachers and parents believe that appropriate placement encompasses retention and that certain children will benefit from the maturity gained from an extra year in the same grade. However, cumulative research on the effects of retention shows that the negative effects usually outweigh the positive effects.

Should I hold my ADHD child back in school?

Repeating a grade, or grade retention, is rarely a good choice for a child who struggles academically, behaviorally, or socially. Repeating a grade often does little to advance a student's skill level in any area.

What are the negative effects of retention?

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.

Why don t schools hold kids back anymore?

Retaining students, regardless of the grade at which they are retained, increases the likelihood that they will drop out of school. Consistent with the Chicago findings, the advantage for retained students declined each year and disappeared altogether after three years.

Why is grade retention bad?

Here are a few studies. In 1984, Holmes and Matthews found that retained students showed lower academic achievement, poorer personal adjustment, and lower self-concept. In addition, they found that in all cases, the outcomes for students promoted were more positive than for those who were retained.

What are the disadvantages of holding a child back from 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.

How many kids get held back a year?

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

What causes a child to be held back a grade?

Common Reasons Children Get Held Back in School

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. The reasoning behind grade retention may be based on maturity, behavior, absences, academic performance, or any number of factors.

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.

Is it better to hold a child back in kindergarten or first grade?

The data also suggests that in spite of having all these resources and manpower, kids who repeat kindergarten don't do as well as their first or second grade classmates once they make it into those grades. In one study, researchers associated this poor academic performance with repeating kindergarten.

Is retaining students in the early grades self defeating?

He found that retained students had significantly lower scores in self-efficacy, task orientation, valuing of school, persistence, enjoyment of school, class participation, school attendance and performance, and higher scores in failure avoidance and disengagement.

Should a child repeat first grade?

Kids who can tell you they feel like another year in the same grade will be helpful are good candidates for repeating a grade. Kids who are strongly opposed to staying back are more likely to find ways to make it not work. Keep in mind that kids won't outgrow learning and thinking differences by repeating a grade.

What is it called when you get held back a grade?

Holding kids back a grade — also known as “retention” — isn't common. But if the school is considering having your child repeat a year (or if you are), there are some important basics to know about it.

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.

What grade is best to repeat?

The simple answer is… as early as possible. Repeating kindergarten or preschool is a lot less stressful for a child than repeating a class in primary school. Repeating a grade in elementary/primary is much less stressful than repeating in the higher grades.

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.

Do colleges care if you repeated a grade?

For the most part, colleges don't mind if you repeat a grade or have to take a year off in high school, but the answer could depend on the colleges you're interested in. For more competitive colleges, the admissions team is going to be stricter about who they let attend their school and may have different standards.