Students retained in their grade in the elementary and middle schools of the Kirkwood School District (Missouri) are profiled in this report. The data, provided by principals, counselors, and teachers in the eight schools involved, cover the school years 1978-79 to 1983-84. Of the 439 students affected, 53 percent were retained in either…

This study examines the demographic, academic, social, and behavioral differences between GED (General Educational Development) candidates who were and were not retained in grade. Differences between candidates who were and were not retained in grade are examined with regard to factors such as demographics, delinquent behaviors, reasons for…

This study examined the long-term effect of retention/promotion decisions on the academic achievement of primary grade students. First, second, and third grade retainees were matched on several variables with same-age students who were not retained. Results indicated that retained students significantly improve their relative class standing by the…

This study examined the impact of grade repetition or retention on the subsequent academic performance of students in rural and urban areas in northeast Tennessee. A total of 40 students who were retained in grades 3 or 5 during the 1985-1986 school year, and 70 students who were not retained, completed the Stanford Achievement Test yearly between…

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) is now in its third year of study on the effects of a new retention policy adopted in 1981-82. Reviewing the results of the first two years led to the conclusion that traditional methods of studying retention might not be the most appropriate. These evaluations have primarily focused on the impact of…

Retention of students began soon after the introduction of graded elementary schools in the mid-1800s. As early as 1911, research started to show that retention failed to remedy the difficulties of academic achievement and social adjustment exposed through graded schools. Educators today have a number of options other than retention designed to…

This study compared academic achievement and self-concept of kindergarten and first grade students who had been retained with first graders who had not been retained. The academic achievement of kindergarten children who were retained was also compared with that of children socially promoted to first grade. Results indicated that both kindergarten…

A widely held perception is that public schools are failing American children and society. Some research indicates that 9th-graders are more at risk for school failure than are students in other grades. This paper presents findings of a study that examined 9th-graders in the Durham Public School System (North Carolina) who were enrolled in a Basic…

The predictive validity of the Simultaneous Technique for Acuity and Readiness Testing (START), a developmental screening approach, was assessed with school performance as outcome criterion. The sample consisted of over 1,000 rural, preschool children between 54 and 66 months of age who were screened over 3 successive years. Follow-up achievement…

This study examined demographic, behavioral, and academic contributors to inner-city children's grade retention prior to third grade and at the end of the fifth year of school. Subjects were 138 children who were enrolled in 63 public schools in Washington D.C. Prior to entering first grade, all children, 96 percent of whom were African American,…

This study examined the academic achievement of an original sample of 168 inner-city children who were making the transition from the primary to the upper elementary grades (62% of the children made up the recovered sample). Subjects, 95 percent of whom were African American, were enrolled in public schools in Washington, D.C. Data from previously…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the relationship between the performance (as measured by test results) of pupils in classrooms with full-time teacher aides. The Student Teacher Achievement Ratio project (STAR) was implemented in Tennessee from 1985 through 1989 to study the effects of class size on student achievement and…

This paper presents a follow-up study of the academic performance of children who had previously participated in one of eight experimental infant or preschool education projects. The initial phase of the study compared grade retention, special class placement and school dropout rates of the experimental program children with those of children in…

This study examined the social competence and academic achievement of 248 children who were enrolled in public schools in Washington, D.C. Of the children in the 77% recovered sample, 96 percent were African American, 68 percent had attended both prekindergarten and kindergarten, and 32 percent had attended kindergarten only. The prekindergartens…

Meta-analysis of 17 studies was conducted to determine the effectiveness of retaining elementary school students in grade. Calculations with data from the 17 studies produced 217 effect size measures, most of which were measures of differences in reading and mathematics achievement. Some measures of differences in social adjustment, behavior, and…