87. The Retention Dilemma

Today, I am talking about the dreaded decision of whether or not
to pursue promoting your child to the next grade level or holding
them back a year.  For our kids, this is often such a
difficult decision because while they may be advanced in some
areas they are likely delayed in other areas both academically
and socially.


We have had two years of unprecedented disruptions in learning
with COVID so depending on what grade your child is in will
determine how much if at all your child’s learning has been
impacted.


Overall, research shows that retention does not lead to better
outcomes.  They argue that the literacy gains made during a
retention year do not stay with a child long-term or help them
catch up. In this episode, I am sharing with you some things you
need to know as well as things you should consider so that you
can make an informed decision for yourself and your child, and
your family.


Promoting students to the next grade negating their mastery of
basic skills, in my opinion, is not the answer, it is simply
pushing them through, and then when they arrive in middle and
high school it is an even bigger problem.


Many parents believe that retention will allow their child to
have more time to develop socially so there isn’t such a broad
gap between where they are socially and where their peers are.
People with autism, at every age and severity level, tend to be
young for their age.


Ultimately, the decision to have a child repeat a grade is a hard
one, especially for a child with autism. Follow your instincts
and ask questions about any and all concerns you have as well as
share with the school administrators and team what you feel is
the best decision for your child.


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