This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

We will be sending our September born son on time unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. Having a September birthday by itself is not compelling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm forced to hold DD back - her birthday is 10/15 and stupid ass FCPS won't let her test into kindergarten 2 weeks before she turns 5. Nope, let's waste an entire year and do NOTHING (with regard to her as she has to sit home for a whole year whereas in MOCO she'd be in K). Even if she reads, writes, adds, subtracts, they DON'T GIVE A F.

FCPS elementary school bureaucrats are the laziest bunch in the DC area I swear. God forbid they had to actually work a FULL 5-day workweek. God forbid they actually had to put some kind of effort into testing students to see if they are ready to enter kindergarten a couple weeks before their 5th birthday.

If you feel that strongly about it and can't face another year of preschool, why don't you send her to a private or move to Montgomery County? FCPS has to set a cutoff and if they continually make exceptions what would the point of a cut-off be? Particularly in an area where every parent thinks their kid is special and deserving of an exemption from the rules? The operative word here is PUBLIC school. If you don't like it, you can always try another option.

Otherwise, you might want to chill. Your daughter is 4 and you have a long way to in dealing with school bureaucracies. Best to save your energies for the battles that matter.

Montgomery County is 9/1 as the cut off with testing. Its not about kids being special. Some kids thrive on academics and holding them back does more harm than good when most preschools are play based. We have a child who was reading at 3 and very clearly ready and we had to hold him back. We had to continue tutoring him which just put him further ahead.

We aren't in Montgomery county, but my daughter's birthday is on 9-1. I really want to hold her back until she turns six because I do not think she is ready for a full day of KG. I am so conflicted.

you want to hold her back this year? or next year? If her birthday is a year away then I wouldn't worry about it yet because she will change so much. I know someone in Moco who started their kid on time and then they were told by the k teacher to pull him out and out him back in preschool.

My dd does not turn five until next year. I like to worry well in advance obviously. Truthfully, as we are doing private I have to put her on the wait list soon so I can ensure she has a spot for when we do start her. I have met children who have started KG on time with Sept birthdays and they have done well but I don't know how it will be with my child. I want to do what is best for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Red-shirting" is not new. My brother started kindergarten late, and he's almost 50. It had nothing to do with academics; it was all about maturity.

I did the same for my August boy (oldest). Best decision I ever made. He never, ever socializes with kids who would have been in his grade, and he isn't even the most socially savvy of the kids who ARE currently in his grade. Academically, he does fine, but he's far from bored. It worked for us.

On the flip side, we chose to play him up in sports, so he competes with kids two years older in his league. So we couldn't care less about the sports piece.

Good to hear this. We redshirted our middle child who has a mid-August birthday for academic and social reasons. The only issue I have now is that he is so tall, almost as tall as his 8 year old brother so he looks like a giant next to the little ones. His height makes him look so much older than everyone else.

I have the same issue with my DD. She's 7 and everyone thinks she's 9. I think by the time they get to third grade there will be enough tall kids so it won't be as obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I turned 7 in 2nd grade. This is insane.

Most kids turn 7 in first grade, not second grade.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but in the past, many turned 7 in second.

[Anonymous]

I don't think parents in this area can underestimate what an absolute machine FCPS is. Kindergarten today is the first grade of yesterday and so on.

I don't penalize parents who think maybe their kid would stand a better chance at longterm success if they were held back a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but in the past, many turned 7 in second.

Say what? Check your math.

The only kids who turn 7 in second grade are the 4 year-olds starting in K. Which were never that many.

Many years ago, I started K as a 4yo and was only one of a handful.

[Anonymous]

NP here. This conversation is so interesting and I just wanted to share that this discussion comes up again in 8th grade. Many of the incoming freshman boys at my son's private are 15 turning 16 in 9th grade after just repeating 8th grade often at a private feeder school. These boys will graduate as 19 year olds and by there is one well-known exception of a boy who will graduate when he is 20 (and tight into a Division I basketball).

[Anonymous]

haven't read all of this thread, but wanted to give my opinion. Have a child with an august birthday, and waiting until age 6 to start kindergarten- this has nothing to do with sports, and nothing to do with any other child, and goes far beyond being ready for kindergarten- i couldn't care less how my child does compared to others- what i do care about is what is expected of kids today academically. Its not appropriate, its too much too fast, and not meeting the kids developmentally where they are. Since the states are pushing for things to be taught earlier, and often too early, kids are being turned off to learning and school. If the state is insisting on certain standards, then i will opt to send my child when he/she should attend based on the curriculum objectives and not on the age. So K objectives are more appropriate for 6 yr olds, that is why i am waiting. This has nothing to do with anyone else's child and i am amazed how many people are upset with my decision, and how it impacts them.

[Anonymous]

21:05 In the past the cutoff was Dec. 31st. at most schools.

[Anonymous]

21:14 if the curriculum is so hard, why are so many clamoring to get into AAP and picking centers over even their local level IV option because it offers math 2 or more years above the curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:21:05 In the past the cutoff was Dec. 31st. at most schools.

It would have been a long long time ago, if ever, in VA. Where do you get your "facts"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:21:14 if the curriculum is so hard, why are so many clamoring to get into AAP and picking centers over even their local level IV option because it offers math 2 or more years above the curriculum?

Not 21:14 but some of it is status (does that surprise you?) and some of it is because AAP is designed to support students who learn differently and need a different set of challenges. Incoming K parents can't be sure their child is/isn't going to end up in the AAP program so they likely want to prepare them as best they can regardless for a strong academic career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:haven't read all of this thread, but wanted to give my opinion. Have a child with an august birthday, and waiting until age 6 to start kindergarten- this has nothing to do with sports, and nothing to do with any other child, and goes far beyond being ready for kindergarten- i couldn't care less how my child does compared to others- what i do care about is what is expected of kids today academically. Its not appropriate, its too much too fast, and not meeting the kids developmentally where they are. Since the states are pushing for things to be taught earlier, and often too early, kids are being turned off to learning and school. If the state is insisting on certain standards, then i will opt to send my child when he/she should attend based on the curriculum objectives and not on the age. So K objectives are more appropriate for 6 yr olds, that is why i am waiting. This has nothing to do with anyone else's child and i am amazed how many people are upset with my decision, and how it impacts them.

Everyone has to do what they believe is right for their child. But I think your underlying premise is wrong. Kids do absolutely fine with the early educational push and they love learning. The schools and curriculums are so amazing. Teachers are trained to be flexible with all sorts of learning styles. I can't imagine where you get the idea that kids aren't ready and are being turned off to education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would actually worry about a kid that sat quietly at age 3 for hours at a time.

ITA! My DC did this at age two. Daycare providers though she was a dream. Turns out this signaled problems.