Re: retention

[George Sheridan <learn@jps.net>]

From Jerry Bracey:

A large study by Karl Alexander and company at Hopkins found retention to be
helpful in the early grades in terms of increased test scores, but to have
washed out by the time the kids got to middle school.  Lorrie Shepard and
others critiqued that study from methodological aspects.

I was just thinking about this topic this morning and would have to say that
we really don't know--from a research standpoint--what the threat of
retention does.  Most of the studies done have been using existing school
policies, not large scale threats due to state high-stakes testing.  Did
more third graders pass the tests in NYC and Chicago because of the threat
of retention?  Will those retained drop out?  From a research standpoint (as
opposed to an ethical and moral standpoint) it's still an empirical
question.

JB

----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Ohanian" <susano@gmavt.net>
To: "FairTest" <arn-L@interversity.org>; <ARN-state@yahoogroups.com>;
<LiteracyForAll@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 8:39 AM
Subject: [arn-l] retention



http://www.susanohanian.org


The sentence below (From San Antonio paper) has appeared several times
lately--in different papers. Does anybody know what this research is?

Decades of research have shown that retention increases a child's chances of
dropping out, but more recent studies have shown that holding a student back
can be beneficial.

George Sheridan

Data collection is not a viable alternative to human engagement.