should student be able to test out of their grade to advance to a upper level regardless of age?

Answer 1

Yes.
Age is not the sole indicator of academic ability. I am an adult now and I still wish I could have skipped more than one grade. Too many kids drop out of school because they are bored.

Answer 2

(1) For elementary and middle school, I think parents, students and teachers should consider age as a factor, but not as a requirement. Differences in social development should be accounted for, and whether a student is happier staying with friends of the same age, or has not formed bonds that would make a difference, or feels more comfortable in another grade.

(2) For high school students, I think age is less critical; since students can still interact in extracurricular activities together and may not be as separated or affected socially by advancing a grade. Again, it depends on what works best for the student.

There are long-distance learning / correspondence courses that allow students to earn semester credits for school, either by taking a full course or by testing out by taking an exam for credit.

I tutored students using the Texas Tech program, which was well structured for high school, although the elementary levels were not as good as full classroom activities and participation.

At that time, the rules were that if a student sat through the semester but failed the class, only a passing grade was needed on a test for full credit; but if the student had not attended a class, either a higher score on the test or the full correspondence course was required.

So this system could be used to advance a student, though I more commonly recommend it to help students catch up with one or two credits missing, due to major illness, transferring schools, or failing, that would otherwise hold them back a year.

Answer 3

My oldest daughter was quite bright and a little above medium size for her age. She skipped first grade, but it was when we moved to a school district (in a different state) with a later age cutoff date, so she actually moved into a class closer to her own age. But when we moved again a year later she was in a class with kids all a year older than her. All the turmoil of moving didn't hurt her, and neither did the age difference, even though she had to endure both at the same time.

My middle daughter, however, who was small for her age, started kindergarten when she was 4 (she has a November birthday and the age cutoff in NY was Dec 1). I really debated whether to start her that young but the school district had a free summer enrichment program with a pre-K class so we put her in that, and the teacher there said Kerry would be fine in the fall. A year later we moved to Indiana where the cutoff is June 1, and she was almost six months younger than the youngest in her class. It didn't matter so much the first couple years, but middle school was rough, when she was the last to start "developing." Now she's a junior and proud to be the youngest in her class but still near the top academically. In our high school, most of the classes don't go strictly by grade level anyway, so it doesn't matter much about age. I just subbed in a math class that had students from 9th to 12th grade in the same class. Unless a student is skipping a lot of grades (like a Doogie Howser), he or she should be able to deal with it fairly well.

Answer 4

In many states and school districts this has been done for over 30 years. My best friend just began driving (age 16) prior to our high school graduation. He could have advanced farther but his parents were wary of doing so. He adjusted fairly well but a number of students never do. I don't see anything wrong with it if it is done early enough in the child's educational process and they are rather mature. Otherwise it is much more difficult for them to adjust. As a parent, we want what is best for our children in all aspects of their lives. I am a former educator and I hope that I have answered the question adequately. Have a great holiday!!
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Answer 5

I think so. I skipped a grade in school, and the only place i really suffered was in gym class in elementary school. Your body develops at the pace it develops, and the things a seven year old can do and a five 1/2 year old can do are different. Yes, kids are cruel, and you might be subjected to teasing if you are really a lot younger, but there aren't too many five year olds who are going to be testing into fifth grade. I think age has very little to do with how well you perform in school.