ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS
5.2.1
From time to time it may be necessary and beneficial to retain a student. Before
any such decision is reached however, there should be dialogue between school and
home. It should be recognized that each case is different and that there are a number
of factors to be considered including the goals for the retention, the expectations
for the youngster, the student's overall ability, motivation, his/her learning rate
and style, motivation, age, peer relationships and parent attitude. The primary
reason for retention, however, should be a failure to master the basic skills in
reading, language arts and math.
The teacher, when he or she is first considering retention as a possibility, must
discuss this with the child's parents or guardian no later than the middle of March
allowing sufficient time for alternatives to be explored and testing and other
evaluations to be completed. Every effort should be made to enlist the parents' or
guardians' support and to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution, however final
decision on retention rests with the building principal.