New EU-funded reports published on Grade Retention: Policies, Predictors, and Effects

Grade retention - having students repeat a school year - is still widely practiced across Europe. Yet, research consistently shows that it is an ineffective solution to learning gaps and can even have negative long-term consequences. To address this issue, the Erasmus+ project Alternatives for Retention (AlteR) has brought together experts from across Europe to analyze policies, identify key challenges, and explore evidence-based alternatives.

This project has now resulted in two EU-wide reports, providing policymakers, educators, and researchers with essential insights:

• Grade Retention Policies in Europe – The first comprehensive overview of how grade retention is regulated and implemented in all 37 Eurydice Network countries.
• Predictors and Effects of Grade Retention – A state-of-the-art review of the latest empirical studies on why students are retained, what the consequences are, and an in-depth data analysis of classroom- and school-level factors influencing retention rates.

These reports mark a significant step forward in understanding and addressing grade retention in European education systems. They are available in English, French, and German.

With these insights, the AlteR project provides a foundation for better-informed policies and practices, helping schools and policymakers move towards more effective and inclusive education strategies.

Partner organizations

• UCLL Leuven
• Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada Lisbon (ISPA)
• Medical School Berlin
• Maastricht University