Why Have We Retained The Practice of Retention?

Welcome back to this season’s discussion about some of the “sticky” practices in our profession that have persisted, despite lack of research evidence. Today’s topic is a very polarizing one: retention. Education researcher John Hattie has been quoted as saying, “No single intervention by schools is worse than retention.” That’s a pretty serious condemnation! Yet it continues to be something that schools consider when students are encountering serious learning struggles.

In today’s episode, SST8’s Frank Gant talks with Lisa Shannon, the Director of Special Services for the Lake Local School District in Stark Co. Throughout her career in northeast Ohio, she has had numerous opportunities to discuss retention with educators and families - starting first as a co-teacher in her district’s first co-teaching team, then as an assistant principal, assistant superintendent, and director of special services. Lisa and Frank will consider why we have retained retention as a routine educational practice, and what alternatives can be explored. They close out this episode with 8 critical factors for educators and families to consider when having a conversation about retention. Be sure to listen to the whole episode to under why these are so critical!

1. Present level of achievement, particularly in reading and math
2. Gender
3. Intellectual ability
4. Present grade placement
5. English language proficiency
6. Size (height/weight)
7. History of previous retention
8. Presence of a disability

Co-Host: Frank Gant, SST8 Educational Consultant

About Our Guest: Lisa Shannon is the Director of Special Services for the Lake Local School District in Stark Co. She has served students with exceptionalities for the majority of her career, with more than twenty years of leadership experience in Ohio’s public schools. Lisa started her career as the general education teaching counterpart of her district’s first co-teaching team where she provided specially designed instruction alongside an intervention specialist. She later moved into building and district leadership roles working in positions ranging between Assistant Principal to Assistant Superintendent. Lisa states that her greatest professional fulfillment is supporting thousands of students, staff, and families and watching children grow by leaps and bounds by maximizing their various and unique strengths.

Additional Resources

Alternatives to Grade Retention (article) | AASA: The School Superintendents Association

Retention (book excerpt) | Hattie, J. (2008). Visible learning. Routledge.