CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF GRADE REPETITION - EVIDENCE FROM BRAZIL

Two factors are most important in determing repetition. First, student achievement levels are very important; low performance is a key element. Second, governmental policy is central. Simply put, if there is no place to go, students will stay where they are, repeating primary grades. Repetition also has a direct impact on achievement. Repeating the second grade over a 2-yr period moves students from below the mean to a position close to the mean in achievement. But this is an expensive policy, and it is quite likely that there are alternative and less costly ways to improve achievement. -from Authors