Question I know someone who has a 14 year old with numerous learning disabilities. He has already been held back to repeat 8th grade, because he wasn't truly receiving the services he needed until last year. He has now had two very successful years in 8th grade with the addition of multisensory instruction and dyslexia-specific interventions. It is time for him to move on to the 9th grade campus, but his mother is considering holding him back again.
I have seen vast improvement in his academic skills as well as with his social skills over the last two years. His behavior is better and he seems to tolerate school MUCH better than in past years.
Please send me some pros and cons of holding him back another year. I am truly torn as to the right option. He will continue to need special education services throughout his academic career, so the general information on retention does not really apply.
Thank you for your help.
Answer Hi Jamie,
For this you will have to make a case study. Try and jot down all things which you feel he has been able to accomplish in 8th grade. You can make a comparative chart with previous years and have various sections to it like - reading skills, social skills, coping mechanisms, and quote examples.
Then try and have some examples of activities he will have to indulge in 9th grade. This way you will be able to prove to her that he is prepared to jump to 9th grade campus. You can then add that he is going to feel energised and encouraged and it will give him a sense of achievement.
