Logistics of Redshirting

[Anonymous]

Can anyone share the logistics of redshirting their child in DCPS? I understand this is a contentious issue. I'm not interested in debating redshirting or defending our decision.

I'd really appreciate any recent experience with redshirting in DCPS for PK4. For example, is that possible with the lottery? Do we need to talk to the principal in advance? Would there be the same process and approvals needed if we redshirted in K?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Do you already attend the school, and do you have an IEP?

[Anonymous]

Definitely talk to the principal. I thought it was up to the parent and the lottery system let me lottery for a redshirt spot. Once we were give a spot, the school called to tell me they enforce the cutoffs and he would have to be enrolled in pk4 (not pk3 like I wanted). I was able to talk principal into it because my child had delays, but it was difficult and I almost changed schools because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you already attend the school, and do you have an IEP?

We don't attend the school, but older sibling is currently in K through the lottery (entered in PK through the lottery). It would not be our IB school, which I know complicates things.

He recently "graduated" from DC's Early Stages program, so no longer has an IFSP.

Thank you, thank you for any insights!

[Anonymous]

First of all, stop calling it "redshirting". That implies it's about seeking an advantage in sports. Say that you want to place your child in the grade most suited to his development.

Ask to meet with the principal, AP, or whichever person is most in charge of special education. Bring in the Early Stages stuff and be prepared to explain precisely why you believe a lower grade is the most appropriate placement.

Because preschool is pretty flexible about ability and not super academic, DCPS is sometimes reluctant to hold kids back in preschool but willing to do so for K. So you'd have two years of PK4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you already attend the school, and do you have an IEP?

We don't attend the school, but older sibling is currently in K through the lottery (entered in PK through the lottery). It would not be our IB school, which I know complicates things.

OP here. Oops, in the above post, I meant to say that the potential redshirted sibling does not yet attend the school or any DCPS, but older sibling is currently in K where we would want the redshirted kid to start.

Thanks also to the poster who mentioned checking with the principal.

[Anonymous]

OP-- really, stop calling it "redshirting". It's only going to make it harder for you to persuade them.

You seem to think this is something DCPS will do simply because you request it. And it isn't. What you need to do is make a compelling case that your child's needs and developmental level will be best met in a PK3 classroom, meaning a classroom where the youngest children are not yet 3 years old.

[Anonymous]

You need to build a strong case. My child was born 3 days before the cutoff and DCPD wouldn’t work with us. Academically he was doing well but socio-emotionally it was a mess. We ended up repeating his prek4 at private school where we have stayed and put our youngest.

[Anonymous]

*DCPS not PD

[Anonymous]

To clarify:
Older Child is currently enrolled in DCPS - and is OOB
Younger Child has not enrolled in DCPS or Charter (to date)
Younger child is age eligible for K - but you want to put them in the lottery for PreK instead?

As I understand it - for PreK lottery, you can just select the "grade" that you want - the system will not force the grade based on Date of Birth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all, stop calling it "redshirting". That implies it's about seeking an advantage in sports. Say that you want to place your child in the grade most suited to his development.

Ask to meet with the principal, AP, or whichever person is most in charge of special education. Bring in the Early Stages stuff and be prepared to explain precisely why you believe a lower grade is the most appropriate placement.

Because preschool is pretty flexible about ability and not super academic, DCPS is sometimes reluctant to hold kids back in preschool but willing to do so for K. So you'd have two years of PK4.

Holding back would be more appropriate. Reshirting is holding back and you are giving them a false sense of being "better" as they aren't better they are just with a younger set of peers so the expectations are lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone share the logistics of redshirting their child in DCPS? I understand this is a contentious issue. I'm not interested in debating redshirting or defending our decision.

I'd really appreciate any recent experience with redshirting in DCPS for PK4. For example, is that possible with the lottery? Do we need to talk to the principal in advance? Would there be the same process and approvals needed if we redshirted in K?

Thank you!

If you want to redshirt, the way to do it is to skip public PK and start in K. If you apply for the PK lottery and your kid is too old with no delays, then they can place the student into K even if you get a seat in PK.

[Anonymous]

If you try to enroll a recently-turned 6 year old in DCPS kindergarten, could they potentially require you to enroll in 1st instead?

Since we’re OOB for sibling’s school, I’m not sure if we’d have a chance at lottery in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you try to enroll a recently-turned 6 year old in DCPS kindergarten, could they potentially require you to enroll in 1st instead?

Since we’re OOB for sibling’s school, I’m not sure if we’d have a chance at lottery in K.

Yes. In DCPS they don't have to go along with your request if they feel it isn't appropriate.

Normally OOB siblings in K would get in at most schools.

[Anonymous]

If you redshirt, in high school your kid will be eligible for the Equitable Access preference, see https://www.myschooldc.org/node/116 I wonder if this will be a reason more parents want to do it and if schools will get even stricter about it. Of course, the preferences could change by the time OP's kid is applying for high schools!