Should struggling students be retained?

The overall costs and benefits of retention are not well understood. Retention of younger students seems to improve their test scores. The long-run effects of holding back younger students are ambiguous. Retention of middle school students seems to increase their chances of dropping out.

Should failing students be held back?

The weight of the evidence of literally hundreds of studies shows that retaining children does not produce higher achievement. Rather than flunking students, schools should provide high quality instruction for children who find learning difficult.

Why students should not be retained?

Although additional research is needed to understand why negative impacts are more likely to occur when retention is implemented in the higher grades, one common argument against grade retention policies is that they place a significant emotional burden on students: because students can be stigmatized as failing and ...

How do you decide if a student should 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.

Is retaining a student a good idea?

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.

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What are the negative effects of student retention?

Research shows increased rates of dangerous behaviors such as drinking, drug abuse, crime, teenage pregnancy, depression, and suicide among retained students compared to similarly performing promoted students.

What are the cons of school retention?

Kids who are identified as most behind are the ones “most likely harmed by retention.” Retention often is associated with increased behavior problems, such as emotional distress, smoking cigarettes, alcohol use, drug use, drunk driving, early sexual activity, suicidal intentions, and violent behavior.

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.

Should I hold my child back a year?

Current thinking on retention

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.

Does holding a child back in school help?

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.

Why is low teacher retention bad?

Consequences of teacher turnover

Furthermore, a study from the National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research shows that teacher attrition reduces student achievement, where high turnover resulted in lower student scores in both ELA and math.

Why do kids get held back?

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.

Why is teacher retention so bad?

It sprouts from a variety of factors including inadequate preparation, a lack of mentoring or effective mentoring, pressures of test-based accountability, low salaries, and poor teaching conditions.

Why is retention bad?

Students who are held back tend to get into trouble, dislike school, and feel badly about themselves more often than children who go on to the next grade. The weakened self-esteem that usually accompanies retention plays a role in how well the child may cope in the future.

Is my life over if I fail school?

Failing a course is not the end of the world, but it does come with consequences. Addressing these up front, ideally when you first discover you may be at risk to fail, is the best thing you can do. The most immediate and noticeable consequences of failing a class will be academic, financial, or possibly both.

Is it OK to let your child fail?

It's Okay for Failure to be Familiar

No matter what it is–tying our shoes, sinking free throws, or diagramming a sentence–we're bound to have a few hiccups along the way as we learn. Make sure your kids know to expect some failures as they try new things, and let them know that it's normal and expected.

Can a child be kept back a year at school UK?

Repeating a year is very rare in the UK, but it is relatively common in the USA, where the No Child Left Behind Act (2002) recommended that students be required to demonstrate a set standard of achievement before progressing to the next grade level.

Can I choose to hold my child back?

Yes, a parent can decide to hold their child back a grade, but it's important to discuss this choice with teachers and school staff as they provide valuable insights into the child's progress.

What happens if you get held back 3 times?

States only pay for public school until 21, so if a student is held back more than twice, they won't be allowed to graduate in a traditional program.

How do you decide 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.

Why students should never be forced to repeat a year at school?

Unfortunately, forcing a child to repeat a grade typically causes more problems than it solves. Students who have been required to repeat a grade are more likely to have confidence issues and social issues moving forward. They're far more likely to give up on school or even drop out altogether.

Does retention repeating a grade help struggling learners?

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.

What schools have the highest retention rate?

Why does student retention matter?

Retention is a fundamental component of an institution's ability to carry out its mission. Low retention creates a financial loss but also appears as a symbolic failure for an institution. It is also more cost-effective to retain the students you currently have rather than recruiting for new ones.

Should you hold your child back in first grade?

Having a child repeat kindergarten or first grade is generally fine, but by second grade it really affects self esteem. If she is consistently functioning at a C level, there are much more effective ways to help her to blossom academically.