A legislative mandate requires the Texas Central Education Agency to submit a report each odd-numbered year that includes data collected on students retained in grade, including the reason for retention. This report presents current summary data on the retention rates of Texas students by grade level, age, gender, and ethnicity for 1992-93; year-end summary data; and an overview of state policy regarding retention and promotion. Some preliminary data for the 1993-94 year are also presented. Research on the effects of grade level retention has consistently shown that having students repeat a grade or delaying entry to kindergarten or first grade when the child is of the appropriate chronological age does not help students academically or personally. In 1992-93 an estimated 5% of Texas public school students were retained, but about 7% of Hispanic and African American students were retained. Hispanic students represented 47% of all students retained in 1992-93. The highest retentions continued to be in the ninth grade, and males continued to outnumber females in retentions. Overage students represented 16.2% of regular education students, but were 26.9% of regular education students who were retained. (Contains 1 table, 12 charts, and 8 references.) (SLD)