The school is talking about retaining her in fourth grade if she doesn't do well on the upcoming state tests. I don't think this is appropriate. It would shatter my daughter's confidence. The first years of school are critical in forming good work habits and attitudes. Erlyne Osburn, an elementary teacher with a background in both public and private schools, is here to help you do everything you can to enhance your child's education.
Standardized tests are just one measure of a child's academic proficiency.
Teacher observation, classroom performance and curriculum based assessments should also be used in determining a child's proficiency at a given grade level. While the latter three measures seem to be more authentic in gauging how much a student has retained from what has been taught in the classroom, standardized tests continue to be valued by parents, educators and politicians because the results can be quantified and compared. It isn't easy to do those two things with anecdotal records or report cards. It would be appropriate for you to investigate the school's retention policy further. If your daughter is earning As and Bs, she should not be a candidate for retention based on academic performance.