Receipt of special education services following elementary school grade retention.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the proportion of children who receive an Individualized Education Program (IEP) following grade retention in elementary school.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
Children retained in kindergarten or first (K/1) grade and third grade, presumably for academic reasons, were followed up through fifth grade.


METHODS
Presence or absence of an IEP.


RESULTS
A total of 300 children retained in K/1 and 80 retained in third grade were included in the study. Of the K/1 retainees, 68.9% never received an IEP during the subsequent 4 to 5 years; of the third-grade retainees, 72.3% never received an IEP. Kindergarten/first-grade retainees in the highest quintile for socioeconomic status and those with suburban residence were less likely to receive an IEP than retained children in all other socioeconomic status quintiles (adjusted odds ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.62) and in rural communities (0.16; 0.06-0.44). Among K/1 retainees with persistently low academic achievement in math and reading, as assessed by standardized testing, 38.2% and 29.7%, respectively, never received an IEP.


CONCLUSIONS
Most children retained in K/1 or third grade for academic reasons, including many of those who demonstrated sustained academic difficulties, never received an IEP during elementary school. Further studies are important to elucidate whether retained elementary schoolchildren are being denied their rights to special education services. In the meantime, early-grade retention may provide an opportunity for pediatricians to help families advocate for appropriate special education evaluations for children experiencing school difficulties.
Silverstein
Michael
M
Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, 88 E Newton St, Vose Hall 3, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Michael.Silverstein@bmc.org
Guppy
Nicole
N
Young
Robin
R
Augustyn
Marilyn
M
D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011932:Reading; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013383:Suburban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014477:Underachievement; D014481:United States