Media for the Children

Retention--Summer and Fall terms 2001

For succinct research summaries of this important topic see:

Lorrie A. Shepard and Mary Lee Smith, "Synthesis of Research on Grade Retention." Educational Leadership, May 1990, pp. 84-88.

C. Thomas Holmes and Kenneth M. Mathews, "The Effects of Nonpromotion on Elementary and Junior High School Pupils: A Meta-Analysis. Review of Educational Research, Summer 1984, pp. 225-236.

For recent research that updates and expands the above summaries, see:

Bergin, D.A., Osburn, V.L., & Cryan, J.R. (1996). Influence of child independence, gender, and birthrate on kindergarten teacher's recommendation for retention. Journal on Research in Childhood Education, 10 (2), 152-159.

Dennebaum, J., & Kulberg, J. (1994). Kindergarten retention and transition classroom: Their relationship to achievement. Psychology in the Schools, 31, 5-12.

Ferguson, P. (1991). Longitudinal outcome differences among promoted and transitional at-risk kindergarten students. Psychology in the Schools, 28(3), 139-146.

Jimerson, S. R., (1999). On the failure of failure: Examining the association between early grade retention and education and employment outcomes during late adolescence. Journal of School Psychology, 37(3), 243-272.

Jimerson, S., Carlson, M., Egeland, B., &Sroufe, L. (1997). A prospective, longitudinal study of the correlates and consequences of early grade retention. Journal of School Psychology, 35(1), 3-25.

Mantzicopoulos, P. (1997). Do certain groups of children profit from early retention? A follow-up study of kindergarteners with attention problems. Psychology in the Schools, 34(2), 115-127.

Mantzicopoulos, P., & Morrison, D. (1992). Kindergarten retention: Academic and behavioral outcomes through the end of second grade. American Educational Research Journal, 29(1), 182-198.

McCoy, A.R., & Reynolds, A.J. (1999). Grade retention and school performance. Society for the Study of School Psychology, 37(3), 279-299.

Meisel, S.J., & Liaw, F. (1993). Failure in grade: Do retained students catch up? Journal of Educational Research, 87(2), 69-77.

Roderick, M. (1994). Grade retention and school dropout: Investigating the association. American Educational Research Journal, 31(4), 729-759.

Shepard, L.A., & Smith, M.L. (1987). Effects of kindergarten retention at the end of first grade. Psychology in the Schools, 24, 346-357.

Smith, J.B. (1997). Effects of eight-grade transition programs on high school retention and experiences. Educational Research, 90(30), 144-151.

Thomas, A., Armistead, L., Kempton, T., Lynch, S., Forehand, R., Nousianinen, S., Neighbors, B., & Tannenbaum, L. (1992). Early retention: Are there long-term beneficial effects? Psychology in the Schools, 29(4), 342-347.

Westbury, M. (1994). The effect of elementary grade retention on subsequent school achievement and ability. Canadian Journal of Education, 19(3), 241-250.