Elementary school retention: An unjustifiable, discriminatory and noxious educational policy

The long and short term correlates of first and second grade retention are examined in relation to the variables of achievement and intelligence over a six year period. The retained and promoted control group were also compared in terms of relevant demographic variables: sex, race, initial intelligence, socioeconomic level of family, father absent, etc. The data led the authors to conclude that retention is an unjustifiable, discriminatory, and noxious educational policy.