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Grade retention

fellesferiefellesferie member
in Special Needs

My DS is 8. He's in 2nd grade. His grades hover between average and meeting minimal qualifications. 

DH and I met with his teacher last week, and she surprised us with the news that she has placed him on a preliminary retention list. She stated that his writing was on grade level, his reading just slightly below (and she is confident he will catch up), but that he failed six math standards and she is really concerned about how he will perform in 3rd grade. He was average in math for the entire first half of the year, so all of this occurred in the third nine-week grading period.

We asked about any issues with his behavior, social development, and his focus/attention. Everything is fine except his focus.

So we immediately made an appointment with his pediatrician, who gave us Vanderbilt ADHD checklists. DS's teacher, DH, & I all filled them out , the pedi scored them. and said that he's borderline inattentive. 

We all agree that he understands the concepts and then makes careless mistakes on schoolwork and tests. So DH & I feel very strongly that retaining him is not what is best for him.

Right now there's 6 weeks left in the school year. The principal (who makes the final call on retention) is saying she doesn't have time to meet with us for another three weeks. 

I am pretty much frantic. DS's report cards never reflected that he was below grade level. We knew he was having a hard time, but had no idea it was this bad. I feel like I don't know how we got here, and the way no one in administration is talking to me is making me crazy. This is his teacher's first year teaching, so she cannot speak from experience on what will happen.

Have any of you dealt with retention? What is the likelihood that they will do it against our wishes? We have been very clear with them that we will do whatever he needs (tutoring, summer school, extra help at home--anything).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to advocate for my son?

Thank you for reading! 

my read shelf:
Erin's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
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Re: Grade retention

  • tarapiagtarapiag

    I can't speak to all of this; however, in some states, there is a legal requirement that they tell you about retention by a  certain point.  In the past, we (as teachers) needed to tell parents about retention even if it was only a possibilit

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  • fellesferiefellesferie member
    imageYellowLilies:

    I too would fight the retention.  I know 3rd grade is considered a big jump for most students and is a chal

    my read shelf:
    Erin's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    Report Reply
  • fellesferiefellesferie member
    imagetarapiag:

    I can't speak to all of this; however, in some states, there is a legal requirement that they tell you about retenti

    my read shelf:
    Erin's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    Report Reply
  • fellesferiefellesferie member
    imageYellowLilies:

    Any chance his teacher would be able to tutor him after school?  I've heard some not so great things about

    my read shelf:
    Erin's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    Report Reply
  • fellesferiefellesferie member

    auntie! Thanks for the reply! It is making my head spin, but I do appreciate it.

    I think you need to do two things. Firs
    my read shelf:
    Erin's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    Report Reply
  • CaptainSeriousCaptainSerious member

    I would push to have your child evaluated for special education services at this point.  An educational evaluation will show you how your son is performing against what is expected at his grade level, and a psychological/IQ test will show wha

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  • fellesferiefellesferie member

    Thank you all again for all of your thoughts and advice. DH and I managed to sit down with the principal, teacher, and reading intervention teacher yesterday.

    Both the teacher and the reading specialist said that over the last week or two, it's l

    my read shelf:
    Erin's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    Report Reply
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