Repeating an academic year of school.

A significant number of high school freshmen in the United States have repeated at least one grade. In most cases, teachers recommend retention for one of three reasons: developmental immaturity that has resulted in learning difficulties; emotional immaturity that has resulted in severely disruptive behavior; or failure to pass standardized proficiency or achievement tests at the end of specific years.

Some teachers believe that retaining a student is the best thing parents and teachers can do for the child. Many of these teachers are in early elementary education where maturity factors are of primary concern. Students begin school at such an early age, many teachers argue, that it is unrealistic to expect them all to have the emotional maturity to succeed in structured learning regimens. Marie Ubelhart, who has taught kindergarten and early elementary school in New Jersey...