Redshirting: logistics?

[Anonymous]

Our DC has a late summer birthday, and will be starting Pre-K 3 as a young 3yo this fall. With this birthday, redshirting is potentially a possibility to consider. We don't actually know whether we will want to redshirt-- we will wait to see how kiddo does in pre-school, talk to teachers, etc. So, not asking advice on that question yet.

My question for the forum is: how does redshirting actually work, especially in DCPS? Can parents just decide (probably not, I'm assuming)? Does the school need to recommend? Are there specific junctures (like, before Kindergarten) that make sense?

Further info: kiddo is starting in a DC pre-school this fall which only goes through pre-k, so no matter what, we'll be changing schools before Kindergarten. Our operating assumption is that we'll end up in our local DCPS elementary, but we haven't ruled out parochial or private, and I imagine they might all operate differently on this. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If you are trying to get in somewhere on a lottery basis there isn't flexibility with the age ranges. We very much wanted to redshirt our late September boy as he wasn't ready for K, his teachers in private PK told us he needed another year, but it wasn't allowed with DCPS. If you are going to your home school it may be easier.
There were lots of internal eye-rolls from me when my son had to repeat grade 1 and the school acted surprised that he was behind and like we might be very resistant to holding him back. We know and it's what we wanted in the first place! But he's fine now, a few years later and at or above grade level in everything. So frustrating!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are trying to get in somewhere on a lottery basis there isn't flexibility with the age ranges. We very much wanted to redshirt our late September boy as he wasn't ready for K, his teachers in private PK told us he needed another year, but it wasn't allowed with DCPS. If you are going to your home school it may be easier.
There were lots of internal eye-rolls from me when my son had to repeat grade 1 and the school acted surprised that he was behind and like we might be very resistant to holding him back. We know and it's what we wanted in the first place! But he's fine now, a few years later and at or above grade level in everything. So frustrating!

OP here-- that's really good info on DCPS (and understand the frustration)-- thanks!

[Anonymous]

When we wanted to redshirt our late September birthday child, we had to keep her in private preschool until kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Why would you do this to your child? You pay for private preschool for a year.

[Anonymous]

You can have your child go through 3s and prek as they normally would, based on their cohort and being the youngest. You can decide in prek whether to redshirt. If you decide to redshirt, you have a few options:

1) Go private for elementary school starting with prek- find a school that starts with prek and just have your child repeat prek there.
2) Repeat prek at current school.
3) Or do a 5s/transitional K program elsewhere. Then kindergarten.

Our school district allows redshirting. We may end up at private for K but I know we could do either. DS is doing a transitional 5s program this year.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that you can't redshirt in DC public schools if you start PK3 on time, at least without taking a year where your child is not in DC public schools. Bottom line - DC is paying for 15 years of education for your child (2 yrs PK, K, 1-12). They will not pay for 16 to give your kid an advantage over other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that you can't redshirt in DC public schools if you start PK3 on time, at least without taking a year where your child is not in DC public schools. Bottom line - DC is paying for 15 years of education for your child (2 yrs PK, K, 1-12). They will not pay for 16 to give your kid an advantage over other kids.

PP here - this backs up my understanding:

https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/Pre-Kindergarten%20and%20Kindergarten%20Enrollment%2C%20Promotions%2C%20and%20Retentions%20FAQs%20for%20Parents%20and%20Guardians%20December%202022.pdf

[Anonymous]

You may also find that your kid thrives! My late summer bday kid has really benefited from being among the youngest even though I was pretty worried in PK3 and PK4 and felt like I needed to keep the redshirting option on the table just in case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that you can't redshirt in DC public schools if you start PK3 on time, at least without taking a year where your child is not in DC public schools. Bottom line - DC is paying for 15 years of education for your child (2 yrs PK, K, 1-12). They will not pay for 16 to give your kid an advantage over other kids.

+1 this is how it works in many public school districts. Once you are in a particular public system, you have to progress through their grades at the regular pace, at whatever point you started at, even if at a non-mandatory early entry point. Grade retention is getting very rare in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are trying to get in somewhere on a lottery basis there isn't flexibility with the age ranges. We very much wanted to redshirt our late September boy as he wasn't ready for K, his teachers in private PK told us he needed another year, but it wasn't allowed with DCPS. If you are going to your home school it may be easier.
There were lots of internal eye-rolls from me when my son had to repeat grade 1 and the school acted surprised that he was behind and like we might be very resistant to holding him back. We know and it's what we wanted in the first place! But he's fine now, a few years later and at or above grade level in everything. So frustrating!

NP, what are the K cutoff dates for DCPS? DD will be 3 this year; her birthday is 9/20.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are trying to get in somewhere on a lottery basis there isn't flexibility with the age ranges. We very much wanted to redshirt our late September boy as he wasn't ready for K, his teachers in private PK told us he needed another year, but it wasn't allowed with DCPS. If you are going to your home school it may be easier.
There were lots of internal eye-rolls from me when my son had to repeat grade 1 and the school acted surprised that he was behind and like we might be very resistant to holding him back. We know and it's what we wanted in the first place! But he's fine now, a few years later and at or above grade level in everything. So frustrating!

NP, what are the K cutoff dates for DCPS? DD will be 3 this year; her birthday is 9/20.

Sorry; file above explained it all. DDis in daycare and we are happy for now esp given hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You may also find that your kid thrives! My late summer bday kid has really benefited from being among the youngest even though I was pretty worried in PK3 and PK4 and felt like I needed to keep the redshirting option on the table just in case.

+1 Our summer birthday kid went to private pre-K and they recommended redshirting. At the last minute we decided to enroll him on time against their advice, as he was already reading quite well. Three months later his new Kindergarten teacher was sending him to first grade for accelerated academics and he tested into gifted classes. I think holding back bright boys is a crime.

[Anonymous]

You'll need to repeat Pre-K at a private preschool for a year and then start K back in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

DCPS or any other place with UPK absolutely will not give you another year in public preschool. Most people either do another year in day care, or a private preschool, or find a private K and do K there, see how the kid does, and then repeat K in public if needed or go to public 1st if not.