Variance in abilities and skills of eleven-year-olds being promoted from primary to secondary grades warrants curriculum planning based on concern for the individual development of the child rather than on the type of institttion in which learning takes place. (JB)

Condensed from "Illinois Schools Journal, XLIX, (Summer 1969), 130-133.

Rates of retention over a five-year period were analyzed by grade, school, and the socioeconomic status of each of 32 elementary schools in a Midwestern district. Analysis of variance revealed that schools of middle socioeconomic status retained students at a significantly higher rate than did schools of low or high socioeconomic status. (SLD)

The dilemma of what to do with children who do not progress "normally" is not new, and did not arise because educators grew too timid to uphold academic standards. The problem is an unavoidable consequence of compulsory education. Advantages of social promotion still outweigh difficulties. Deterioration of school standards cannot be blamed on…

A cohort of 2nd-grade students provided comparisons of academic and social competence based on school retention/promotion decisions. Sample groups were (a) retained, (b) at risk for retention, (c) special education, and (d) promoted. Findings suggested most children with academic deficiencies are identified by schools early and are sorted into…

The transition to kindergarten is a significant event for young children and their families. The methods teacher use to orient children and families to formal schooling can have a long term effect on academic achievement. This study examined the transition activities of over 3000 kindergarten teachers that participated in the Early Childhood…

This bilingual (English and Spanish) brochure explains why retention is common among migrant students and what parents can do to help their children succeed in school. By second grade, nearly 50 percent of migrant students in the nation are older than their classmates and only about 50 percent of migrant students graduate from high school.…

This study of the "flow-through" of students through Cleveland (Ohio) Public School buildings between 1985 and 1989 followed four cohorts of students as they progressed through primary, upper elementary, intermediate, and high school buildings. At each level, the characteristics of "stable" students, who remained in the same…

The extent of grade retention in Massachusetts is assessed in this report, which examines current research on grade retention and suggests alternative practices for dealing with low achieving students. Data were derived from the Chapter 188 Individual School Report for 1987-88, an annual survey of Massachusetts conducted by the Department of…

The 1984-85 age-grade distribution for the New York City Public Schools shows that one-third of the city's approximately 850,000 general education and resource room students were above the standard age for their grade. The proportion of overage students increased in the upper grades; in grades nine, ten, and eleven, over half were above standard…

Austin Independent School District's (AISD's) elementary promotion/retention policy is designed to promote the full development of learners' potential and accommodate individual needs. It requires that all those at least one year behind in reading basals (grades 1-6) or math competencies (grades 4-6) be considered for retention. AISD tries to help…

For the 3 school years beginning in 1983 and ending in 1986 an average of 57,000 students in grades 1 through 8 of the public schools of Louisiana was not promoted annually to the next grade. The annual rate of failure ranged between 11.37 and 12.24 percent of the student enrollment. This study, which provides a look at the nature and scope of…

Nonpromotion of elementary school students is a highly controversial and emotional issue, and a vast amount of literature has been devoted to the topic. With the current emphasis on raising academic standards in public schools, more and more educators are viewing "social promotion" with disfavor. This study was conducted to determine current…

The doctrine of in loco parentis (that school authorities stand in the place of a parent while a child is attending school) was always used to measure the rights of authorities relative to student conduct. In 1969, however, the Supreme Court rang the death knell for unrestricted control by school officials over students in its decision on "Tinker…