Should I hold my 2nd grader back?

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 it good to hold kids back grade retention?

Retention studies

Grade retention is one of the most powerful predictors of high school dropout. In adolescence, retained students are more likely to experience problems such as poor interactions with peers, disliking school, behavior problems, and lower self-esteem.

What grade can you not get held back?

In the United States of America, grade retention can be used in kindergarten through to eleventh grade; however, students in grades seven through twelve are usually only retained in the specific failed subject, as each subject is taught by one specific teacher.

Is holding a child back beneficial?

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 repeating 2nd grade bad?

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.

Advantage of holding kids back

What are the downsides of repeating a grade?

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.

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.

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 you fail 2nd grade?

California education code states that students who don't meet grade standards — as measured by state standardized tests at promotion “gates” in elementary and middle schools — must repeat the grade. Those gates are at second, third, and fourth grades and at the completion of middle school in eighth grade.

Should struggling students repeat a grade?

Kids who are much younger than grade-level peers and who have a history of struggling academically can benefit from 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.

What causes a child to be held back a grade?

The reasoning behind grade retention may be based on maturity, behavior, absences, academic performance, or any number of factors. Getting held back is not a reflection of intellect. Your child is not “stupid” because they need to repeat a grade. Make this apparent with every discussion.

Who decides if a kid 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 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.

Why grade retention is ineffective?

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.

How do you tell your child they have to repeat a grade?

Talk to your child about the decision.

Telling your child that he or she needs to repeat a grade is never easy. It's best to have this conversation in a private, comfortable space that is free from distractions and any other siblings or friends.

Is grade retention ineffective?

Research has found that for most students, grade retention had a negative effect on all areas of achievement (e.g., reading, math, and language) and social and emotional adjustment (e.g., peer relationships, self-esteem, problem behaviors, and attendance).

Why is 2nd grade so hard?

Kids are learning new, less concrete material in second grade. And they're learning it in ways that may not look like what you remember from when you were in school.

How can I help my struggling second grader?

Is it a choice to 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 you get held back in 2nd grade?

What to do if your child gets held back?

Sit down and talk with them in private. Make sure they understand that there is nothing wrong with them and that being held back is not a bad thing. Explain that sometimes it takes longer to learn things, especially during a hard year with the pandemic.

When should a child be retained?

4). A child may be considered for retention if he or she has poor academic skills, is small in stature or the youngest in the grade, has moved or been absent frequently, does poorly on a prescreening assessment, or has limited English-language skills.

What grade is best to repeat?

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.

How many people repeat a grade?

Seven percent of U.S. kids between age 6 and 17 had repeated 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.

Do kids still repeat grades?

In American schools do kids ever have to repeat more than one year? Extremely unlikely but possible; Kids normally should do better after repeating the year once. If they have to repeat again because of a failing grade then they would usually switch schools or go to a special needs based class.