Redshirting at MCPS

[Anonymous]

Hi there-- I'm sure this has been asked before but I was hoping to get a recent opinion. My son is 3.5 years old and has scored below level on a number of things when he was evaluated, which was recommended by our preschool. He was born in mid-July but was a preemie born 6 weeks early. We currently live in the NYC suburbs where he will be middle of his grade age-wise, but we are considering a move to Potomac to be near family. At MCPS he will be among the youngest in his class.

We are currently leaning toward redshirting him in New York, though we think it may be a little challenging given the December 31 school year cutoff. At MCPS because he's much closer to it, we'd feel pretty strongly about holding him back a year. Is this something that is fairly standard? How can I find out more information about it?

[Anonymous]

This is pretty common in MCPS and as I understand it, it is allowed as long as they are attending an accredited preschool program instead.

[Anonymous]

It's pretty easy to do at MCPS. What is it that you want to know exactly? The information about the process is on the MCPS website.

[Anonymous]

Some kids are redshirted, others are sent on time. Truthfully, for kids who exhibit deficits in preschool like what you describe, they will need services and support whether you redshirt or not. It won’t erase the actual root situation.

[Anonymous]

There’s a form (isn’t there always?), but it’s not terribly burdensome. Here’s the link for MCPS information on age requirements for enrollment.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/enroll/requirements/

Apparently, there was a DCUM thread a while back discussing a rumor that MCPS may be changing its policy about redshirting. As far as I know, there hasn’t been any confirmation and this is only an empty rumor. (Frankly, I suspect the schools would prefer that students who need a little extra time to mature get it, rather than coming to K before they’re ready, but that’s just my perspective.) However, you might want to confirm the policy with the school system directly, before you commit yourself by moving.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1298656.page

Redshirting tends to be a hot button topic on DCUM, and you may receive some rabid responses. In real life, I don’t think people most people will know, much less care, how old other kids are when starting K.

[Anonymous]

Wow, super helpful and so quickly too! Thank you!

I just wanted to know if this was going to be something that came with a lot of friction or if essentially it would be our choice. I think we're trending toward the view that it's a strong preference, and I wanted to understand the dynamics before we move and figure it out.

What do most kids in this situation do for that age 5 year? Private K? Repeat a 4s program at preschool?

[Anonymous]

I redshirted my kid 15 years ago and (back then at least) I just filled out a form and that was it. They didn't even require any special signature from his pre-K teacher (who recommended it). Good luck, and welcome to the swamp!

[Anonymous]

Not common at all. 9/1 is the cut off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not common at all. 9/1 is the cut off.

I’m not a big proponent of redshirting but where are you that this isn’t common? In our Silver Spring ES the summer birthdays seem to be about 50/50 redshirted versus not.

[Anonymous]

Yes, very common for summer birthdays. Of the cases I know about, most kids just stay at the same preschool/day care for another year, alongside all the fall birthday kids who are only a few months older than them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not common at all. 9/1 is the cut off.

I’m not a big proponent of redshirting but where are you that this isn’t common? In our Silver Spring ES the summer birthdays seem to be about 50/50 redshirted versus not.

I don’t know any kids held back, and I have one at the deadline that went on time. They had delays. Op has a year and a half to get the child help. No need to hold back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, very common for summer birthdays. Of the cases I know about, most kids just stay at the same preschool/day care for another year, alongside all the fall birthday kids who are only a few months older than them.

No it’s not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, super helpful and so quickly too! Thank you!

I just wanted to know if this was going to be something that came with a lot of friction or if essentially it would be our choice. I think we're trending toward the view that it's a strong preference, and I wanted to understand the dynamics before we move and figure it out.

What do most kids in this situation do for that age 5 year? Private K? Repeat a 4s program at preschool?

Your child is 5. They go to K. If that badly delayed you get help not and have the. In intensive services.

[Anonymous]

Folks should probably share the income level of your neighborhood/school when weighing in on this. Redshirting is less common among families where it's a big deal to save the money on an extra year of child care. But OP is planning to move to Potomac so I doubt that's an issue there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, super helpful and so quickly too! Thank you!

I just wanted to know if this was going to be something that came with a lot of friction or if essentially it would be our choice. I think we're trending toward the view that it's a strong preference, and I wanted to understand the dynamics before we move and figure it out.

What do most kids in this situation do for that age 5 year? Private K? Repeat a 4s program at preschool?

Your child is 5. They go to K. If that badly delayed you get help not and have the. In intensive services.

The services suck. Then what? Where are all these miracle services fixing all the kids?