Can you redshirt in FCPS?

[Anonymous]

I know redshirting is controversial and some districts have made it illegal. Is it even an option in FCPS? I have a kid with significant developmental delays who will qualify for an IEP. He’s doing okay in a private preschool right now, but he is in a class with kids a year younger. We are debating whether to start him in kindergarten on time or hold him back a year, but I don’t know if redshirting is even an option. Anyone know the current policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know redshirting is controversial and some districts have made it illegal. Is it even an option in FCPS? I have a kid with significant developmental delays who will qualify for an IEP. He’s doing okay in a private preschool right now, but he is in a class with kids a year younger. We are debating whether to start him in kindergarten on time or hold him back a year, but I don’t know if redshirting is even an option. Anyone know the current policy?

Not knowing the details of his developmental delays, it is difficult to answer your question.

Have you discussed this with the preschool teacher?

Have you had him tested? You may want to contact the school and share the details.

I was a first grade and K teacher. I do think there are kids who benefit from redshirting--but it is not the kids who have developmental issues. I would suggest that if you know he has these issues and will qualify for an IEP that he would be better off in school where he can get the help he needs.

To me, the kids that benefit from redshirting are not so much the ones who are just immature without other issues. The late birthdays play a part, too.

[Anonymous]

Do you have an IEP now? (Preschoolers can get services). If yes, they will say that services are to be given at the elementary school, and you’ll need to enroll to keep them.

If you don’t plan to start them until school, then you can delay entry.

But I’d agree with the other poster…if your child needs help, enroll them in school so they can get help. This doesn’t sound like a maturity thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know redshirting is controversial and some districts have made it illegal. Is it even an option in FCPS? I have a kid with significant developmental delays who will qualify for an IEP. He’s doing okay in a private preschool right now, but he is in a class with kids a year younger. We are debating whether to start him in kindergarten on time or hold him back a year, but I don’t know if redshirting is even an option. Anyone know the current policy?

Not knowing the details of his developmental delays, it is difficult to answer your question.

Have you discussed this with the preschool teacher?

Have you had him tested? You may want to contact the school and share the details.

I was a first grade and K teacher. I do think there are kids who benefit from redshirting--but it is not the kids who have developmental issues. I would suggest that if you know he has these issues and will qualify for an IEP that he would be better off in school where he can get the help he needs.

To me, the kids that benefit from redshirting are not so much the ones who are just immature without other issues. The late birthdays play a part, too.[/quote]

I'm this PP. I meant that the ones who do benefit from redshirting are the ones whose only issue is immaturity and possibly late birthdays. Not the ones who have other issues that require an IEP.

[Anonymous]

Yes you can, but once they start school - even K - it becomes nearly impossible. It’s only easy if they haven’t actually started K yet. They also won’t give a kid an extra year in the special needs preschool programs (PAC and ECCB) so you’d need to have a plan for the redshirt year, either private school, day care, home schooling, attending an ABA center or whatever. They will create an IEP and then put it on hold until your kid starts public K. If they are doing in school speech or OT, you can bring the kid to the school to do it or they might be able to offer transportation from a day care or private pre-K.

[Anonymous]

I believe that the law is that you have to register for school by the age of 6, so register him for K when he is 6.

[Anonymous]

I held back both my September birthday kids, A 10 and 8 year old now.

However, for the 8 year old did not receive IEP services the year he attended a private school between attending FCPS preschool with an IEP and kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

OP here. His delays are caused by a confirmed genetic condition. We were informed about the special education preschool when he aged out of early intervention, but we couldn’t make it work logistically, and his current school was already working well with him. He receives private therapies now. So we could continue to pay for private preschool and therapies for an additional year, or put him in kindergarten on time to take advantage of the services. The cost of private is not insignificant, but we could make it work. We plan to discuss the options with both his current school and the IEP team. Fortunately, we have some time to make a decision, as he’s not yet 4.

Mostly, I was just curious about whether redshirting was even possible. I have heard that it’s banned in DC and MoCo, but I couldn’t find any information about Fairfax. Sounds like there is nothing preventing it, so I think that answers my question about whether that’s an option we can consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. His delays are caused by a confirmed genetic condition. We were informed about the special education preschool when he aged out of early intervention, but we couldn’t make it work logistically, and his current school was already working well with him. He receives private therapies now. So we could continue to pay for private preschool and therapies for an additional year, or put him in kindergarten on time to take advantage of the services. The cost of private is not insignificant, but we could make it work. We plan to discuss the options with both his current school and the IEP team. Fortunately, we have some time to make a decision, as he’s not yet 4.

Mostly, I was just curious about whether redshirting was even possible. I have heard that it’s banned in DC and MoCo, but I couldn’t find any information about Fairfax. Sounds like there is nothing preventing it, so I think that answers my question about whether that’s an option we can consider.

Not yet 4 does give you time. What month is his birthday? I would rely on the experts. If he is doing well the way you are working it, then maybe just keep doing it.
Lots of progress can be made with your son over the next year.

[Anonymous]

Tons of people do it in FCPS with much less reason than you. Especially in the rich areas.

[Anonymous]

My kid who went on time has class with kids a year an 9 months older than him so it’s definitely allowed.

[Anonymous]

I would love if FCPS did what DCPS is doing. A doctor's note for legitimate issues could make for an exception but otherwise, no need for redshirting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know redshirting is controversial and some districts have made it illegal. Is it even an option in FCPS? I have a kid with significant developmental delays who will qualify for an IEP. He’s doing okay in a private preschool right now, but he is in a class with kids a year younger. We are debating whether to start him in kindergarten on time or hold him back a year, but I don’t know if redshirting is even an option. Anyone know the current policy?

https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/registration/special-education-registration-child-find

Shouldn't you have your child evaluated by FCPS first? My daughter was referred by her private daycare teacher to this program at 2 and she was found in the normal range (albeit closer to cut off). It's a worthwhile effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love if FCPS did what DCPS is doing. A doctor's note for legitimate issues could make for an exception but otherwise, no need for redshirting.

State law allows it, too bad so sad.

Really there isn’t that much redshirting. People are getting mad at made up scenarios. It’s 99% summer birthdays, so no one is turning 7 in Kindergarten or whatever people get their underpants in a twist about.

[Anonymous]

One thing to think hard about is post high school options within the special education realm.

I know it’s hard…he’s so little! But since you have a diagnosis perhaps you have the ability to imagine what 18/19/20 could look like. Is he a full diploma candidate? Or are you looking at a modified version? A student can stay in special education until their 22nd birthday. If he’s not a candidate for a full academic diploma, FCPS has fantastic post HS programs that would buy him a few more years of support and skill building, job preparation, etc. If you redshirt, that’s one less year of that on the other side.

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/special-education-instruction/career-and-transition-services