Colorado Revised Statute §19-1-102(1) requires children ages 7 through 16 to attend school, however there is no law mandating which grade the child must be in. Colorado is one of six states that leaves kindergarten admission age up to the individual school district.
Parents or schools may choose for a child to stay back a grade if the child did not master the skills required to pass. This is done because children are more likely to fail advanced subjects if they have not learned the basics. Some experts also believe that the extra year can help children advance socially and emotionally.
Repeating a grade can have a negative impact on a child's school performance. Students actually seem to do worse academically their second year in a grade, according to the website Family Education. Children who are held back a grade are also at risk of social adjustment problems. Given the risks involved with grade retention, parents should consider all options before choosing to hold their child back a year.