2021 School Year Options

(RE)START

Students who missed some or all of kindergarten (or pre-k) last year can start kindergarten (or pre-k) this year.

REPEAT

Any student in any grade can repeat the grade this year if their parents think it is in the student’s best interest.

Scenarios To Consider When Making Your Decision

Many students struggled with school and remote learning during the Coronavirus pandemic. Parents throughout the state are thinking about how to help their kids learn the most now to be prepared for the future. A new law in Texas allows parents to decide if their child should start school again (if they missed some or all of their first year of school last year), repeat a grade, or re-take a high school course. Whether this new option is relevant to you depends on how your student experienced school during the 2020-21 school year. Some examples:

A student who did not enroll in kindergarten in 2020-21, even though they were old enough

A student who enrolled in kindergarten in 2020-21, but whose kindergarten experience was heavily disrupted by the pandemic

A 4^thgrade student who struggled learning while remaining virtual most of the year because of COVID-19, and whose friends were mostly virtual, too

A 9^th grade student who did not fail but still did not do well in a foundational course (ex: Algebra 1 or Computer Science), and is worried about being successful in higher-level courses (ex: Algebra 2 or Computer Science 2)

Research on (re)starting school or repeating a grade is mixed; different studies have found positive and negative results for students’ academic learning and social development. When making decisions, parents should keep in mind both the general research AND the specifics of their student’s situation.

View Research

What are some key things you should keep in mind when making this decision?

For all students

Review your student’s full academic record, including grades, test scores, and other evidence of their learning, to build a strong understanding of whether they are ready for the next grade.
Research shows that students who are repeating a grade should have access to additional academic supports (such as tutoring, summer school, and differentiated learning opportunities) to improve their learning. Just repeating the school year without a plan to better cover material doesn’t necessarily improve results.

For younger students

Consider social factors that may be benefit or challenge your student. For example, is your six-year-old developmentally and socially ready for first grade or would they benefit more from attending kindergarten?

For older students

If possible, talk to your student about the decision – how do they feel about repeating a grade or course?
For students interested in varsity sports, review eligibility rules based on student age
Ask your school about their grading policy: if a high school student received a passing grade for the course they will repeat, they will keep their original grade on their transcript unless the school has a different policy.
Review your student’s progress towards graduation: will repeating a course delay when they will be ready to graduate?

If you decide your student will (re)start or repeat a grade/course, it is important to act quickly!

You must tell your school district in writing before the start of the school year.

Check your school district’s calendar (often available on the school district’s website) to make sure you know when school starts for the 2021-22 school year.
Ask who you need to tell in writing - your school administrators and/or district staff

If your school district does not agree with your decision, they may bring together a committee to meet with you to talk about your decision. After you meet with the committee, you will make the final decision whether to your student will (re)start or repeat a grade or course, and the school district must honor your decision.

Ask your school what additional supports such as tutoring and summer school opportunities will be available to your student.