What does it mean for a child to be retained in school?

Retained students have an additional year of school and are a year older than the non-retained kids when they take a grade-level test. That means that age, natural development, and more time in class might explain the higher scores. That is part of the idea behind retention: giving students extra time to learn.

What are the risks of retention in school?

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 retention good or bad?

Most children do not “catch up” when held back. Although some retained students do better at first, these children often fall behind again in later grades. Retention is one of the most powerful predictors of high school dropout; holding a child back twice makes dropping out of school 90% certain.

Can I refuse my child being retained in GA?

If a parent or guardian or teacher(s) appeals the decision to retain the student, then the school principal or designee shall establish a placement committee to consider the appeal.

What causes a kid to be held back in school?

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.

Can a School Retain My Child Without Permission? | Education Attorney

Can I stop my child from being held back?

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]).

Is it bad to be held back a grade?

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.

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.

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.

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.

What is the downside of retention?

The downsides to high employee retention are disengaged employees who remain in their roles, hurt productivity, create toxic work environments, and drive good employees away. High retention can also lead to difficulty implementing change, less innovation, and a lack of diversity and inclusion.

Why students should not be retained?

Jimerson looked at 20 studies published between 1990 and 1999, and concluded that they “fail to demonstrate that grade retention provides greater benefits to students with academic or adjustment difficulties than does promotion to the next grade.” In many studies, students who were retained had worse academic ...

Should a child 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.

Does grade retention make a difference?

The research is clear that grade retention is not effective over time, and it is related to many negative academic, social, and emotional outcomes for students — especially students of color who have been retained.

Why is retention harmful?

Research. There have been seventy-five years or more of retention research. 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.

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.

Do parents have a say in grade retention?

Teachers Can Overrule Retention Decision

The teacher must put their decision and its basis in writing. This recommendation is to be given to the student's parents. Parents must be notified of potential retention and there has to be an appeal process.

What does it mean has your child ever been retained?

Most often, schools consider holding students back if they haven't developed the academic skills necessary to succeed in the next grade. In fact, some states have passed “third-grade retention laws,” that require third-grade students who can't read at a certain level must be retained and repeat the grade.

What does it mean if your child has been retained?

Retention is the practice of not promoting students up a grade level in school (e.g., students repeat a grade level) and is based on the belief that children learn more academically by repeating a grade (Fait, 1982).

Can a student with an IEP be retained?

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.

How many F's does it take to fail 7th grade?

Most schools allow the students of 7th grade to pass with one F. However, some schools may have a more strict policy, requiring students to have a passing grade in all subjects to pass the grade.

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.

How do you deal with being held back a grade?

Don't be too hard on yourself.

Try your best not to feel bad about yourself because of it. If you have a good attitude about it and use it as motivation to do better in school, being held back may actually do you a lot of good. Being held back does not mean that you are stupid or a bad student.

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).

What are the benefits of student retention?