Should I retain my child?

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 good to retain a child?

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.

Do parents have the right to retain their child?

A parent has a right to appeal the decision to promote or retain a child. State law requires districts to have promotion and retention criteria for students who are in their last year of middle school (most commonly eighth grade) and are ready to move on to high school (EC Section 48070.5[a][5]).

Do kids benefit from being held 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.

What are the cons of retaining students?

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?

Why not to retain a student?

Retention also has a direct cost to the students themselves: Many are delayed a year from entering the workforce because they have to spend another year in school. That can reduce their short- and long-run earnings. Plus, requiring students to take an extra year to graduate may cause more of them to drop out.

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.

What grade do most kids 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.

How many kids get held back a year?

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

Why do parents hold their kids back in school?

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 .

Can I refuse for my child to be held back?

Still, schools usually can retain students without their parent's permission if they believe it is warranted by their academic performance. If you disagree with your child being held back, talk with an education attorney about what legal recourse may be available for you and your family.

Can you retain a child with an IEP?

Yes, students with disabilities may be retained; however, careful consideration in the development, implementation, and revision of the student's individualized education program (IEP) should prevent student failure in most cases.

Who decides if a kid gets held back?

Contrary to popular belief, the decision to hold a student back in elementary school is not solely based on their performance on standardized tests. While test scores may be taken into consideration, the final decision is often made by a collaborative effort between teachers, parents, and school administrators.

What age should you stop carrying your child?

18 Months to 4 Years

At this age, when children begin to walk on their own, parents often assume that it's time to put the sling away. But there are actually no developmental reasons to stop carrying. Children at this age usually love to be independent.

Should I hold my kid back a year?

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Does getting held back affect college?

Being held back a year in high school can affect your chances of getting into a good college, but it's not necessarily a deal-breaker. Admissions officers consider a variety of factors when evaluating applications, including GPA, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and personal essays.

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.

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 retention positive or negative?

Although most educational and psychological research confirms that grade retention is rarely a positive intervention, there are some children that do better if they are retained. For these students, retention is both necessary and beneficial.

Why is retention a problem?

A disconnect between management and employee expectations can cause conflict and even create a rift in team dynamics. Without clear communication on collective objectives and company values, employees may find it challenging to stay engaged with their work.

Are there any benefits to 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.