Yeah this really isn’t an issue about a system not working. It’s a parent who isn’t happy with the decision they made for their child. |
Same for academics. If you are truly gifted, then redshirting can give you that edge to be a champion. But that needs to overcome the challenge of not being challenged in your grade level program. If you are not truly gifted, but redshirting for edge, then redshirting is just delaying inevitable lackluster performance. If you are holding back a year because you aren't mature enough for the original assigned grade, you'll thrive. |
Public school boards set these policies. Generally they are hesitant to change a policy if it will make people choose private over public. Since many families in your richer area will switch to private school if the publics disallow redshirting, it's something you will have to live with.
In a mixed income area where the private schools are not that special, a drive to change redshirting policies might get more traction. The perceived advantages of redshirting dont hold up over time. It's better to be the youngest. |
We went by the guidelines of the school. February is 7 months before the cut off. People take advantage of the system to give their kids an individual advantage. That’s really the issue. |
Truly gifted kids don't gain an edge by being redshirted. They perform at the top either way. |
Not this again. Move to DC if you want a strict system. Move outside of DC if you want flexibility. But don’t think the whole world will do what you want. The world won’t redshirt or not redshirt. |
I haven’t. No regrets in anyone i have known. |
Elementary athletics go by their own cutoff rules. Not relevant at all. |
I think redshirting can be helpful if you have a child who is extremely immature or painfully shy or has some other unique issue. Otherwise, no, there's no advantage. It's not going to make your average child any smarter (or seem any smarter), and it's not going to turn through klutz of a kid into an athletic superstar. There's no shortcut to greatness here. Sorry. |
Our area is done by grade |
This depends. Our county’s gifted program for math and English starts in 7th grade. Not only is it very accelerated in material, the pace is also very accelerated- as in it requires 2+ hours of homework per night. Even many kids that test into it can’t keep up. The ones on the younger side tend to lack the executive function skills and maturity to handle such a high volume of work and expectations |
You haven’t reached a higher level of athletics. Both myself and my DH played D1- football and soccer and both of us are summer on time. You can’t fake it at the higher levels |
Give me a break. Send your kid to RSM and tell me how "gifted" they are. The seven year olds will run circles around your seventh grader. |
Gifted programs don’t really matter. Teach your kid social skills. It goes further in life. |
Redshirting doesn't really make any difference unless you do it multiple times. At least three or four times, ideally. Your 10 year old should be in first grade. |