Some American children struggled to keep up with schoolwork in the first half of the COVID-19 pandemic.在新冠肺炎疫情的上半年，一些美國兒童很難跟上功課。 As a result, many states saw large increases in the number of students who had to repeat grades.因此，許多州不得不留級的學生人數大幅增加。 Traditionally, experts say that repeating a grade can hurt a child's social life and academic future.專家們說，一般來說，留級會損壞孩子的社會生活和學術未來。 But many parents have asked for their children to repeat grades to help them recover from the difficulties of online learning, quarantines and school worker shortages.但許多家長要求孩子留級，以幫助他們從在線學習、隔離和學校工作人員短缺的困難中恢復過來。 The Associated Press examined data from 26 states plus the District of Columbia on the most recent academic year.美聯社調查了26個州和哥倫比亞特區最近一學年的數據。 It found that 22 of the states, plus D.C., saw an increase in the number of students who were retained, or held back a year.研究發現，22個州，加上哥倫比亞特區，留級一年的學生人數有所增加。 Three of those states — South Carolina, West Virginia and Delaware — saw the number of retained students more than double.其中三個州-南卡羅來納州、西弗吉尼亞州和特拉華州-留級學生人數增加了一倍多。 Pennsylvania passed a law during the pandemic permitting parents to let their children redo classes.賓夕法尼亞州在疫情期間通過了一項法律，允許家長讓孩子重修課程。 The following year, the number of retained students in the state increased by about 20,000.第二年，該州留級學生人數增加了約兩萬人。 Kristi Price is the mother of a student in Pennsylvania who repeated a grade.克里斯蒂·普萊斯是賓夕法尼亞州一名留級生的母親。 She said it was a great decision for him.她說這對他來說是一個偉大的決定。 "At first, I didn't really want to do it." said her son Braylon, now 13.一開始，我並不是真的想做這件事。她13歲的兒子布雷倫說。 "But then later in the year I thought it would probably be better for me if I did."「但後來，我覺得如果我這麼做，可能對於我來說會更好。」 While the family's two daughters were able to keep up with school even with limited classroom time, Braylon struggled.雖然這家人的兩個女兒即使在有限的課堂時間裡也能跟上學校的步伐，但布雷倫卻很吃力。 When he went back to in-person school for the first full academic year of the pandemic, he did not perform well.當他在新冠疫情的第一個整學年後，親自回校上學時，他的表現並不好。 And that winter, Braylon suffered an injury that forced him to return to remote learning.那年冬天，布雷倫受傷，這迫使他重新開始遠程學習。 On his repeat of sixth grade, Braylon had an individualized education program that helped him be more focused.在六年級復讀時，布雷倫有一個個性化的教育計劃，幫助他更加專注。 Having more one-on-one attention from teachers helped too.老師們提供更多的一對一關心也幫助提升了專注力。 Socially, he said the change was easy.在社交方面，他說改變很容易。 Most of his friends had been in lower grades or attended different schools already.他的大多數朋友都上過低年級，或者已經上過不同的學校。 Education research, however, has been critical of making students repeat grades.然而，教育研究一直對學生留級持批評態度。 Arthur Reynolds is a professor at the University of Minnesota.阿瑟·雷諾茲是明尼蘇達大學的教授。 He said students who are retained are twice as likely to drop out of school.他說，留級生輟學的可能性是非留級生的兩倍。 Kids see it as a punishment, Reynolds said.雷諾茲說，孩子們認為這是一種懲罰。 "It reduces their academic motivation, and it doesn't increase their instructional advancement."「這會降低他們的學習動機，也不會增加他們在教學上的進步。」 But supporters of retention say none of the research was done during a pandemic, when many children attended online classes or did not attend at all.但支持留級的人說，疫情時許多兒童參加了在線課程或根本沒有參加，而這些研究沒有一個是在疫情期間進行的。 In most places, parents can ask for children to be held back.在大多數地方，父母可以要求孩子被留級。 But the final decision is made by school leaders, who make decisions based on factors like academic progress.但最終的決定是由學校領導做出的，他們根據學業進步等因素做出決定。 California and New Jersey also passed laws that made it easier for parents to demand their children repeat a grade.加利福尼亞州和新澤西州也通過了法律，讓父母更容易要求他們的孩子複習一年。 But that choice was only available last year.但這種選擇在去年才有。 In Pennsylvania's Fox Chapel Area School District, two students were retained at the request of educators.在賓夕法尼亞州的福克斯教堂學區，兩名學生被老師要求留級。 Eight other families decided their students would repeat a grade.其他八個家庭決定讓他們的學生復讀一年。 Another six discussed the new legislation with the school but decided against holding their students back.另有六人與學校討論了新立法，但決定不讓學生留級。 "As a school district, we take retention very seriously."said Mary Catherine Reljac, who is the head of the district.該學區負責人瑪麗·凱瑟琳·雷爾哈克說，「作為一個學區，我們對留級非常謹慎。」 She said the district involves parents, a team of educators, school counselors and school leaders to help decide what is best for each child.她說，一個地區包括家長、教師隊伍、學校輔導員和學校領導在內，都去幫助每個孩子決定什麼是最好的選擇。 Price says Braylon's retention helped him receive an individualized education program.普萊斯說，布雷倫的留級幫助他獲得了個性化的教育計劃。 The special education plan gave him more support as he attended sixth grade again.當他再次上六年級時，這一特殊教育計劃給了他更多的支持。 Braylon said he felt like the extra support was very important.布雷倫說，他覺得額外的支持非常重要。 He said he likes having one-on-one help from teachers sometimes.他說，有時他喜歡得到老師的一對一幫助。 "I think because of the pandemic. we, as parents, were able to see how much he was struggling."Price said.普萊斯說：「我想因為這場疫情，作為父母，我們能夠看到他有多麼吃力。」 "And we were able to recognize …that he needed more help in order to be successful on his own."我們能夠認識到…他需要更多的幫助才能靠自己取得成功。
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