Originally Posted by ultramarina
I generally throw my lot in with eliminating age-based grades, but that's a pipe dream.

In my 1970s elementary school, there were five grades placed in four "teams" of three classrooms each. As a second grader, you could stay in Team 1 or move up to Team 2. Placements were determined flexibly within the team, as well, with kids moving among the classrooms in their team for different reading or math groups. While everyone was moving around for those, some kids were pulled for remedial whatever or accelerated whatever. There were aides around to facilitate and skilled teachers to differentiate.

The whole school was organized this way, and it worked. I doubt they still do it there, but I wonder why it's not done now. It made SO MUCH SENSE.