Requirement · part of 4.1.1.0. Which rank the Cub Scout is working on
4.1.1.0. No going back, and no moving ahead
Required Often forgotten
Cub Scouts do not go back and work on ranks designed for earlier grade levels, even if those were missed because of when they joined. Nor do they move ahead to the next rank until the current school year is complete, or until their next birthday if they are transitioning by age.
Notes and warnings
Note. A youth who must repeat a school year is the case people ask about, and the Guide answers it directly: repeating a grade generally does not mean being kept back in Cub Scouting, but it depends on the circumstances and on what is best for the youth. The decision is the parent's or guardian's.
Where this step comes from
- Guide to Advancement (2025), Section 4.1.1.0 · Cub Scouts do not go back to earlier ranks, nor move ahead until the school year is complete or the next birthday.
- Guide to Advancement (2025), Section 4.1.1.1 · Repeating a grade generally does not mean being kept back; the decision belongs to the parent or guardian.