redshirting has a negative effect on student outcomes

[Anonymous]

Students who are old for grade (ie. redshirted) do well at first, but develop complications as they get older. They are more likely to drop out. They are also more likely to commit crimes.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150319124214.htm

[Anonymous]

"Up until the 16th birthday, it is all positive," Cook said. "They are doing better, relative to their classmates, by every measure. It makes sense, because they are more mature."

But after age 16, the picture shifts, Cook's research shows. The old-for-grade students are more likely to drop out and be convicted of a felony before age 20. The explanation for the seeming contradiction lies in the age at which students may legally withdraw from school, which is 16 in North Carolina.

"If they were born before the cutoff date, they have just 19 months between their 16th birthday and graduation to be tempted to drop out," Cook said. "If they were born just after and enter school later, they have 31 months, and for some of them, it is an irresistible temptation."

"It's human nature," Cook said. "For a lot of adolescents, high school is a drag."

I can't imagine this is much of an issue for middle class students with involved parents. I have no dog in this fight. My kid is a November birthday and will be in school on time.

[Anonymous]

Yep, you convinced me, I am super concerned that my August child who is 2 weeks older than some "on-time" children will have a horrible outcome in life. Worry about your own child and allow parents to make the right decision for their own child.

[Anonymous]

Sixteen years ago, the kids who were old for age were the problem kids who flunked 3rd, or who had such serious academic, behavioral, or immaturity issues that holding them back was an obvious choice.

Those are the same kids getting redshirted today, mixed in with the upper and middle class kids whose parents are giving them every advantage.

[Anonymous]

A lot of children are redshirted because they have issues going in - attention and impulsivity issues, social issues. And of course, they will skew the outcome measures.

Lot of other kids get redshirted because their parents want to give them every advantage and see the year and time to stay a kid and play more.

Trouble in the research is they don't differentiate why the late start per the later outcomes. I think you are talking about two very different sets of kids.

[Anonymous]

Trouble in the research is they don't differentiate why the late start per the later outcomes. I think you are talking about two very different sets of kids.

+1000

[Anonymous]

The way I read it, this was not using red shirted kids--but those who were the older vs the younger. It also does not say where in NC the study took place or how many kids were involved. Scant information to draw these conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Did you read the article? It clearly states that the negative outcomes were 3x higher for disadvantaged kids who are red shirted.

[Anonymous]

The study compared North Carolina public school students born 60 days before and 60 days after the school cutoff date. At the time of the study, North Carolina children had to turn 5 by Oct. 16 to be eligible to enter kindergarten that year.

I don't interpret this to mean they were redshirted--just that it compared the oldest vs the youngest. I wonder if the study was just in disadvantaged schools.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but the negative outcomes are NOT just for disadvantaged children.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/opinion/sunday/dont-delay-your-kindergartners-start.html?_r=0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but the negative outcomes are NOT just for disadvantaged children.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/opinion/sunday/dont-delay-your-kindergartners-start.html?_r=0

The only disadvantage is working one less year. ?

[Anonymous]

Um, did you not read the article or are you just dense?

[Anonymous]

From the NYT article:

"For most children, that context is the classroom. Disadvantaged children have the most to lose from delayed access to school. For low-income children, every month of additional schooling closes one-tenth of the gap between them and more advantaged students. Even without redshirting, a national trend is afoot to move back the cutoff birthdays for the start of school. Since the early 1970s, the date has shifted by an average of six weeks, to about Oct. 14 from about Nov. 25. This has the effect of making children who would have been the youngest in one grade the oldest in the next-lower grade; it hurts children from low-income families the most"

This is very different from a kid who comes from an advantaged home.

[Anonymous]

oh no. my kid who was redshirted by 6 days (but would have made the MoCo cutoff) is doomed to failure. oh no.

[Anonymous]

Away at college is more appropriate for most 19yr old men - rather than being in high school.

They are ready for more autonomy/adventure, or you'll see problems with authority.