New perspectives in grade retention effectiveness research: State of the art in Flanders

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

This symposium aims to bring together 3 studies focusing on effects of grade retention in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium). Research on effects of grade retention has a long history, going back to as early as 1930. Our symposium focuses on effect of grade retention on outcome domains so far underexplored, namely repeaters’ sense of belonging and academic self-concept (paper 1), school career until age 17 (paper 2), and later labor market success (paper 3), using a variety of data, research designs, and data-analysis procedures. As such, our symposium will be of interest to international scholars from other countries allowing and applying grade retention.

Sub Unit

• International Aligned Organizations / Flemish Forum for Educational Research - VFO

Chair

• Jannick Demanet, Ghent University

Papers

• Grade retention and academic self-concept: A multilevel analysis on the effects of schools’ retention-composition - Timo Van Canegem, Ghent University; Jannick Demanet, Ghent University; Mieke Van Houtte, Ghent University

• Effects of first-grade retention on repeaters’ school career until age 17 - Mieke Goos, KU Leuven

• Grade retention and hiring chances in the labor market - Stijn Baert, Ghent University; Matteo Picchio, Polytechnic University of Marche

Discussants

• Florian Klapproth, Medical School Berlin

• Paul Fabian, TU Dortmund University