Is retention in kindergarten a good idea?

Research shows that retention isn't the best plan for most kids. Academics are only one thing to think about when considering retention. You can talk to your child's school about all the options before making a decision.

Does retention in kindergarten work?

Analyzing data from the US Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten cohort with the technique of multilevel propensity score stratification, we find no evidence that a policy of grade retention in kindergarten improves average achievement in mathematics or reading.

Is it a good idea 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.

Is it better to retain in kindergarten or first grade?

On the positive side, keeping your child in kindergarten for another year certainly reduces the likelihood he or she will begin first grade in a rough spot that could lead to long-term academic and social insecurity.

What are the disadvantages of retention in school?

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).

Is Holding Back Your Child Fair?

What is the downside of retention?

One of the main drawbacks to high employee retention is disengaged employees who stay in their jobs, hurt productivity, create toxic work environments, and drive good employees away.

Is grade retention harmful to children?

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

For later grades, the research is fairly clear. Multiple studies have found that holding back middle schoolers increases their odds of dropping out of high school.

Should I hold my 6 year old back in kindergarten?

Experts say delaying kindergarten may benefit kids in certain circumstances, but there are also downsides. March 7, 2023, at 11:49 a.m. Experts say that delaying kindergarten – a practice known as “redshirting” – may benefit kids in certain circumstances, but caution that there are also disadvantages to waiting.

Should I have my 5 year old repeat kindergarten?

In deciding whether your child should repeat kindergarten, it is important to consider whether he has all the skills he needs to go on to first grade. Requirements for first grade readiness vary from state to state.

Should my 5 year old repeat kindergarten?

Academic Readiness

Repeating kindergarten provides children additional time to develop essential pre-academic skills, ensuring they are adequately prepared for future learning. These skills may include letter recognition, basic numeracy, fine motor skills, and language development.

What percentage of kindergarteners are held back?

For those years, 3,201 kindergarten students were retained, or 4% of the total; in first grade, 1,494 students were retained, or 1.9% of the total. In actual student numbers, those held back increased 36% in 2021-22 for first grade (up 547 students) and 13.9% for kindergarten (up 445 students).

What are the cons of redshirting kindergarten?

There are some potential disadvantages to redshirting. Redshirting can be expensive because it often requires an extra year of daytime childcare, creating a hardship for many families. It can create unnecessary delays for kids who may benefit more from getting started with school.

How common is redshirting kindergarten?

Although modern data suggests this may be inflated, as studies have found only around 4-6% of children are redshirted. The change has been even larger in first grade: over a period of forty years, the proportion of six-year-olds in first grade went from 96% to 84%.

Does retention help struggling students?

Evidence suggests that grade retention in middle or high school typically leads to worse educational outcomes, with little or no effect on academic achievement and higher levels of student disengagement.

What are the benefits of delaying kindergarten?

Abstract. Is it beneficial to delay the age at which children begin kindergarten? New research finds that kids who enter at age 6 instead of age 5 — especially kids from disadvantaged families — do significantly better on standardized tests and learn more from schooling.

How much should a kindergartener count to?

Going into the school year, your child may be able to orally count to 10 or beyond. By the end of kindergarten, expect that counting to advance to 100. But don't worry, we're only talking about counting orally. Your kindergartner will not be expected to write all the numbers to 100.

What is redshirting in kindergarten?

This practice, called academic redshirting , is intended to give students another year to mature emotionally, academically, or physically before starting kindergarten. Experts said it's become increasingly popular among upper middle class, college-educated parents .

What to do when your child is failing kindergarten?

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.

Should you redshirt your kindergarten?

The practice of “redshirting” children in school—postponing a child's entrance into preschool or kindergarten—can allow for increased time for social, emotional, cognitive, or physical growth. Many parents consider “redshirting” children who are right around the school birthdate cutoffs.

What should a 6 year old know before kindergarten?

There are certain skills your child will benefit from having before they enter kindergarten. Think about language and math skills. You should consider whether your child can use sentences, recite the alphabet, recognize their own name, and count from one to ten, says Dr. Bravo.

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 long-term effects of grade retention?

Critics contend that retention detaches students from their peers and subjects them to social stigmatization and stress, which might negatively affect self-confidence, motivation, and interpersonal relationships (Anderson et al., 2005; Goos et al., 2021).

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.