Redshirting a March birthday boy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't hold him back. Age is to a good reason and they may do it so they can get him in but make other kids a priority. Public or find another school.

What do you mean “make other kids a priority”?

[Anonymous]

Are your older kids having a good experience? Do you like and trust the school? If so, I’d redshirt. A few months isn’t a lot in the long run

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are your older kids having a good experience? Do you like and trust the school? If so, I’d redshirt. A few months isn’t a lot in the long run

Yes, older kids are great and excelling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What should I do then? Public? I don’t think we have a choice. Should I fight the school about this? I don’t think I want to get on their bad side…

I would find another school rather than redshirt him. However, since you have a relationship with the school and like it enough to send your other kids there, I would talk with the school about why they feel redshirting is appropriate. If the school has a specific developmental concern, maybe you could address that in some other way (e.g. speech therapy, OT, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What should I do then? Public? I don’t think we have a choice. Should I fight the school about this? I don’t think I want to get on their bad side…

I would find another school rather than redshirt him. However, since you have a relationship with the school and like it enough to send your other kids there, I would talk with the school about why they feel redshirting is appropriate. If the school has a specific developmental concern, maybe you could address that in some other way (e.g. speech therapy, OT, etc.).

I will definitely say that we are willing to hire tutors or whatever is needed. I am not sure it will change their mind. Son is doing speech therapy already for some mild issues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What should I do then? Public? I don’t think we have a choice. Should I fight the school about this? I don’t think I want to get on their bad side…

I would find another school rather than redshirt him. However, since you have a relationship with the school and like it enough to send your other kids there, I would talk with the school about why they feel redshirting is appropriate. If the school has a specific developmental concern, maybe you could address that in some other way (e.g. speech therapy, OT, etc.).

I will definitely say that we are willing to hire tutors or whatever is needed. I am not sure it will change their mind. Son is doing speech therapy already for some mild issues

What’s the harm in redshirting? DS has two spring redshirts in his class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't hold him back. Age is to a good reason and they may do it so they can get him in but make other kids a priority. Public or find another school.

What do you mean “make other kids a priority”?

They only have so many slots. So, they have to prioritize who gets them. So, this is their way of eventually taking your child but not as they prefer to give the k spot to someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What should I do then? Public? I don’t think we have a choice. Should I fight the school about this? I don’t think I want to get on their bad side…

I would find another school rather than redshirt him. However, since you have a relationship with the school and like it enough to send your other kids there, I would talk with the school about why they feel redshirting is appropriate. If the school has a specific developmental concern, maybe you could address that in some other way (e.g. speech therapy, OT, etc.).

I will definitely say that we are willing to hire tutors or whatever is needed. I am not sure it will change their mind. Son is doing speech therapy already for some mild issues

Mild speech issues is not a reason to hold back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What should I do then? Public? I don’t think we have a choice. Should I fight the school about this? I don’t think I want to get on their bad side…

I would find another school rather than redshirt him. However, since you have a relationship with the school and like it enough to send your other kids there, I would talk with the school about why they feel redshirting is appropriate. If the school has a specific developmental concern, maybe you could address that in some other way (e.g. speech therapy, OT, etc.).

I will definitely say that we are willing to hire tutors or whatever is needed. I am not sure it will change their mind. Son is doing speech therapy already for some mild issues

Mild speech issues is not a reason to hold back.

That’s not why they suggested it. They mentioned some immaturity and ability to focus on some tasks. I really don’t know and I never considered redshirting him (I am not opposed to it, but never thought of doing it given my kids’ birthdays)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't hold him back. Age is to a good reason and they may do it so they can get him in but make other kids a priority. Public or find another school.

What do you mean “make other kids a priority”?

They only have so many slots. So, they have to prioritize who gets them. So, this is their way of eventually taking your child but not as they prefer to give the k spot to someone else.

I do think some schools use redshirting as a way to fill more seats, by pushing some prospective kinder students into pre-K. I’d be really hesitant for a March birthday (and we did end up redshirting our summer birthday boy due to a school change during the pandemic).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What should I do then? Public? I don’t think we have a choice. Should I fight the school about this? I don’t think I want to get on their bad side…

I would find another school rather than redshirt him. However, since you have a relationship with the school and like it enough to send your other kids there, I would talk with the school about why they feel redshirting is appropriate. If the school has a specific developmental concern, maybe you could address that in some other way (e.g. speech therapy, OT, etc.).

I will definitely say that we are willing to hire tutors or whatever is needed. I am not sure it will change their mind. Son is doing speech therapy already for some mild issues

Mild speech issues is not a reason to hold back.

That’s not why they suggested it. They mentioned some immaturity and ability to focus on some tasks. I really don’t know and I never considered redshirting him (I am not opposed to it, but never thought of doing it given my kids’ birthdays)

Four and five years are not supposed to be mature. Sounds like an excuse.

[Anonymous]

Do not do this. I’d push back, ask them why specifically, and let them know if they won’t place your kid in the correct grade, you will have to find a new school for your whole family.

[Anonymous]

Is he in preschool somewhere now? If yes, talk to his current teachers and school to get their opinion on his K readiness. I wouldn’t hold back March unless his current teachers also believe he’s not ready for K. Enroll him in public K, find a preschool with a K program or see if you can get a late K spot at another private. Then you can apply him for first at your older kid’s school as well as some other options.

[Anonymous]

We redshirted our late September birthday child on the recommendation of the school. DC, now in high school, says if he had a preference he would have preferred to go on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't hold him back. Age is to a good reason and they may do it so they can get him in but make other kids a priority. Public or find another school.

What do you mean “make other kids a priority”?

They only have so many slots. So, they have to prioritize who gets them. So, this is their way of eventually taking your child but not as they prefer to give the k spot to someone else.

I do think some schools use redshirting as a way to fill more seats, by pushing some prospective kinder students into pre-K. I’d be really hesitant for a March birthday (and we did end up redshirting our summer birthday boy due to a school change during the pandemic).

This. Given your relationship with the school, OP, I would push back and say that you want him to start kindergarten not pre-K. Period. They are probably filling their other K slots and then your son is a guaranteed filled slot for the following year. I would not hold your son back based on the whims of this particular school. If you can get something from a current preschool teacher or pediatrician or someone else to bolster your argument that he is ready, even better. Redshirting a March birthday boy who doesn't have obvious delays is a bit ridiculous in my opinion.