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encourage  parents' involvement in their children's schools and education through frequent contact with teachers, supervision of homework, etc. . adopt age-appropriate and culturally sensitive instructional strategies that accelerate progress in all classrooms . emphasize the importance of early developmental programs and preschool programs to enhance language and social skills . incorporate systematic assessment strategies, including continuous progress monitoring and formative evaluation, to enable ongoing modification of instructional efforts . provide effective early reading programs . implement effective school-based mental health programs . use student support teams to assess and identify specific learning or behavior problems, design interventions to address those problems, and evaluate the efficacy of those interventions . use effective behavior management and cognitive behavior modification strategies to reduce classroom behavior problems . provide appropriate education services for children with educational disabilities, including collaboration between regular, remedial, and special education professionals . offer extended year, extended day , and summer school programs that focus on facilitating the development of academic skills . implement tutoring and mentoring programs with peer, cross-age, or adult tutors . incorporate comprehensive school-wide programs to promote the psychosocial and academic skills of all students . establish full-service schools to provide a community-based vehicle for the organization and delivery of educational, social and health services to meet the diverse needs of at-risk students. For children experiencing academic, emotional, or behavioral difficulties, neither grade retention nor social promotion is an effective remedy.  If educational professionals are committed to helping all children achieve academic success and reach their full potential, we must discard ineffective practices, such as grade retention and social promotion, in favor of "promotion plus" specific interventions designed to address the factors that place students at risk for school failure.  NASP encourages school psychologists to actively collaborate with other professionals and parents in their school districts to address the findings of educational research, and develop and implement effective alternatives to retention and social promotion.  Incorporating evidence-based interventions and instructional strategies into school policies and practices will enhance academic and social outcomes for all students

Neither repeating a grade nor merely moving on to the next grade provides students with the supports they need to improve academic and social skills.  Holding schools accountable for student progress requires effective intervention strategies that provide educational opportunities and assistance to promote the social and cognitive development of students. Recognizing the cumulative developmental effects on student success at school, both early interventions and follow-up strategies are emphasized.  Furthermore, in acknowledging the reciprocal influence of social and cognitive skills on academic success, effective interventions must be implemented to promote both social and cognitive competence of students.  NASP encourages school districts to consider a wide array of well-researched, evidence-based, effective, and responsible strategies in lieu of retention or social promotion (see Algozzine, Ysseldyke, and Elliott, 2002 for a discussion of research-based tactics for effective instruction; see Shinn, Walker, and Stoner, 2002 for a more extensive discussion of interventions for academic and behavior problems).

Retention does not appear to have a positive impact on self-esteem or overall school adjustment; however, retention is associated with significant increases in behavior problems as measured by behavior rating scales completed by teachers and parents, with problems becoming more pronounced as the child reaches adolescence. . Research examining the overall effects of 19 empirical studies conducted during the 1990s compared outcomes for students who were retained and matched comparison students who were promoted. Results indicate that grade retention had a negative impact on all areas of achievement (reading, math and language) and socio-emotional adjustment (peer relationships, self esteem, problem behaviors, and attendance).

Position Statement on Student Grade Retention and Social Promotion The increasing emphasis on educational standards and accountability has rekindled public and professional debate regarding the use of grade retention as an intervention to remedy academic deficits.  While some politicians, professionals, and organizations have called for an end to "social promotion," many states and districts have established promotion standards. 

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) promotes the use of interventions that are evidence-based and effective and discourages the use of practices which, though popular or widely accepted, are either not beneficial or are harmful to the welfare and educational attainment of America's children and youth. Given the frequent use of the ineffective practice of grade retention, NASP urges schools and parents to seek alternatives to retention that more effectively address the specific instructional needs of academic underachievers.