Are special education students allowed to repeat a grade? I know in high school, they are allowed to.?

Question

But isn’t that out of compliance with federal law? (No Child Left Behind) According to No Child Left Behind, SPED students are to be exposed to grade level curriculum, which pretty much means taught at grade level and not at ability level.

I don't understand why I had to repeat 11th grade. Some of the answers said that special education students don't have to repeat a grade. Please answer my question. Are special education students allowed to repeat a grade?

In high school, students need credits to graduate. If you don't you have to repeat grades until you have enough. So this has nothing to do with No child left behind act.

Answer 1

Yes, in the USA, any general ed or special ed student may be allowed to repeat a grade -- if it is deemed to be in his or her best interest, by those who represent the student (SST team or IEP team, including parents and the student). This applies to all grades. It is based on the legal principle of LRE (allowing a student to be placed in the least restrictive educational environment, where the student is likely to learn the most). In some cases, a student may learn the most by repeating a grade, although that is less rarely done today.

This may seem like it is always a non-compliance issue with the federal No Child Left Behind law. This law requires more than just mere exposure to curriculum at grade level; it requires the student be able to access the curriculum. In some cases, a student may best access the curriculum in the LRE at a lower grade level, although this would not apply to many students.

NCLB does not require that all students be grouped together solely by age. Nor does NCLB require that a teacher just reads or hands the curriculum to students; the teacher is to teach it and the students are to access it and learn the curriculum knowledge and skills, making that knowledge and those skills their own.

What both NCLB and IDEIA do require is that students not be denied an opportunity to learn all the knowledge and skills that their same-aged general education peers are given an opportunity to learn just for the administrative convenience of the school. Whatever the setting determined to be least restrictive for a particular student to access and learn the age-level appropriate curriculum, neither NCLB nor IDEIA prohibit individualized modifications and accommodations so that each student can learn as much of the curriculum as possible, as fast as possible. In short, NCLB and IDEIA are about enabling students' education, not limiting it by any means.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

There is a couple high schools in the Hampton Roads Area of Va that is not allowing special education student to go on to the next grade unless the special education student has received a grade of C or better in ALL of their classes. Which is highly illegal but they are doing just that. These very same schools that did this, have a major lawsuit against them because of this policy of not promoting the special education student to the next grade level even if the student has the grades and test scores to be promoted.

Answer 4

I believe that special ed. students can repeat a grade. However, that is often frowned upon, unless the student has a really significant problem with attendance. Due to possible legal ramifications brought by the parents, a teacher should have a great amount of evidence to support a decision to hold back a special education student. I am sure the IEP will come into scrutiny if the student is retained.

Answer 5

In North Carolina, they are allowed to repeat a grade, however, it is a decision of the IEP team. It is generally not appropriate for a mentally disabled child (low IQ) to repeat a grade, because due to the nature of their disability, repeating a grade will not help them "catch up". Some learning disabled children can benefit from repeating a grade, especially if they are making significant progress and another year in the same grade would put them on "grade level", however, retention only works with full parental support. If a child ever feels that they are repeating a grade as punishment, his/her self-confidence is shot. In my opinion, a child should NEVER repeat more than one grade, because this separates them too far from their same aged peers. Actually, I think NCLB is causing more EC kids to be held back, because they are often not able to meet the grade level standards. I hope that law makers get a clue and begin to focus more on growth of individual students rather than all students being on "grade level" (which is actually beginning to happen in some areas).

Answer 6

In Florida, special education students at the elementary level are taught at ability levels but given standardized tests like Florida's FCAT based on grade level. Under Florida law, all students whether special ed or not are required to pass the 3rd grade reading test prior to being promoted to 4th grade. As a result many special ed students in Florida, including my son, are required to repeat 3rd grade. There are similar requirements later on in their school career. They have to pass the 8th grade tests in order to go on to high school and the 10th grade tests in order to graduate.

Answer 7

Yes, special ed. students are allowed to repeat a grade. It is because they are supposed to be taught and tested at grade level, no matter what their competency may be. If they do not meet the standards for their grade, then they may be held back.

Answer 8

It isn't against the law. However, no child on an IEP or a 504 Plan should EVER have to repeat a grade. If they are failing, the plan needs to be revised to assist them in passing and learning.

Answer 9

In Georgia, we "allow" it but it is not pushed. I have had parents in elementary school that wanted to retain their son, but the admin and lead teacher gave the parents articles on what research says about retention. Also, they said that if a student is classified SPED, why would we then hold them back. I don't think there is a law pertaining to this, I think it is the LSS and the schools within to make the decision.... As far as highschool, our county runs on credits earned to move up, regardless.

Answer 10

Yes, in the state of Arkansas they can. Up to two grades can be repeated, total. It must be an IEP committee decision. The student is still tested on the grade in which they are placed.