7 Steps to Take if Your Kid Is Facing School Retention

No parent wants to hear that their kid is falling behind in school. As grades are assigned, however, some parents face the troubling news that their kid may be held back a grade. As concerning as a retention notice may be, it also presents opportunities for parents to learn more about their student’s needs and discover new ways to promote their academic success.

If you’ve been informed that your kid may be held back a grade, here are 7 steps you can take:

1. Understand the school’s reasoning

Schools may consider retention for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

  • Delays in developmental/social maturity

  • Excessive absences from class

  • Reading proficiency struggles (especially in lower grades)

  • Consistently poor grades across numerous subjects 

  • Oppositional or disruptive behaviors

Make sure you clearly understand why the school thinks that retention is warranted for your child. Check out your local Parent Training Center to learn if the school’s decision aligns with your district’s policies on grounds for retention.

2. Keep open communication

Regular parent-teacher communication is critical for understanding your student’s challenges, determining whether you agree with the school’s interventions, and collaborating to best promote your child’s success. Ongoing communication will also allow you to verify whether the school has exhausted all other options to address your student’s struggles, such as classroom accommodations or curriculum modifications

3. Consider diagnostic testing

Learning challenges are one of the most common reasons for retention and are often the result of an executive functioning impairment and/or specific learning disability However, research suggests that in the long-term, retention is typically more harmful than beneficial for students with executive functioning issues and learning disabilities. These students are usually better served by receiving modified assignments, classroom accommodations, and/or special education instruction.

Diagnostic testing can pinpoint whether your kid has a learning disability or other diagnosis, which will inform whether retention is or isn’t in their best interest. 

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4. Request a 504 Plan or IEP

504 Plans and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are widely used tools for helping students succeed within their standard curriculum. 504 Plans are less rigorous and easier to obtain than IEPs; these plans outline classroom accommodations that a student will be provided to help them overcome learning challenges. IEPs detail curriculum modifications, supports, and special education service plans that are specific to each student. In some cases, a 504 Plan or IEP is enough to help your kid stay on grade level and avoid retention.

Reaching out to your school will allow you to request information about how to obtain a 504 or IEP and potentially stop your kid from being held back.

5. Contact your Student Study Team or Child Study Team

Each school has two distinct groups that are meant to help a student succeed inside of standard classroom settings. The Student Study Team (SST), or Child Study Team, focuses on creating interventions that are meant to support a student’s progress by developing a 504 plan. Often, this team is made up of the student’s teacher, an administrator, a parent, and sometimes a special education teacher.

An IEP Team is a team of professionals from multiple academic and educational disciplines. These teams provide consultations, evaluations, and special education services to determine eligibility for an IEP.

6. Understand when retention might be warranted

The negative implications of retention often outweigh its potential benefits. However, if your school has made an exhaustive effort to support your student, and they’re still falling substantially behind, retention may be an appropriate choice.

Retention is sometimes the best option for:

  • Students who have had excessive absences due to illness, moving, or the death of a loved one. 

  • Students with developmental delays, some of whom may have started kindergarten younger than their peers. 

  • Students with behavioral issues that are clearly linked to severe academic stress . Retention can reduce anxiety by allowing them to learn at a more manageable pace. 

7. Get professional guidance 

While receiving a retention notice is discouraging, it does not mean that a student’s academic future is hopeless. A retention notice can be the catalyst for families to find professional help, identify their student’s unmet needs, and define appropriate support for their long-term advancement. If your kid has an undiagnosed learning disability or executive functioning impairment, there may be several options to help them without retention. Our diagnosticians will guide you in understanding the root causes of your student’s struggles, so you can pursue the right interventions to help them succeed.

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If a loved one has a learning difference or other condition that impacts their mental health and education, you may feel lost in determining the best ways to support them. 

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More about Variations Psychology

Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions.

Our comprehensive evaluations test for conditions that impact mental health and development such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and developmental delays. 

In addition to diagnostic services, we offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) of K-12 students to assess needs for accommodations in school and determine their appropriate placements. IEEs provide an objective second opinion on existing IEP and 504 Plans.

For K-12 and post-secondary students, we offer evaluations to assess needs for accommodations on standardized tests, college entrance exams (e.g. - SAT, ACT, AP Exams), and graduate and professional licensing exams (e.g. - MCAT, LSAT, GRE, CBEST, NCLEX, GMAT, CA Cosmetology Exam, CA Contractors State Licensing Exam, CA Bar Exam).

Schedule your consultation below to learn how our diagnostic services can support you and your family.

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How to Cite This Blog Article:

Shinn. M.M. (2024). 7 Steps to Take if Your Kid Is Facing School Retention. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/7-steps-to-take-if-your-kid-is-facing-school-retention