Redshirting at MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Definitely true but even near DTSS redshirting is very common as there are plenty of middle class and UMC people who do it.

No, its not. And, MCPS needs to stop allowing it. I don't know anyone who did it. If OP has delays she needs a new preschool as they aren't meeting his needs and get him into private services.

Sorry, it IS common at our DTSS school. My kid in second grade has tons of friends with summer birthdays and they are 50/50 younger versus older. My child in kindergarten, I don’t know the class as well yet but there is at least one summer red shirt I’m aware of. I’d be surprised if there aren’t more. At my kids’ preschool, there were multiple examples.

No, it’s not common at all. And, something is wrong with your preschool if they have that many kids who need held back.

I am starting to think you are either from a very poor neighborhood or possibly you just don’t know your friends’ kids.

I actually don’t like redshirting very much. I think it creates inequity. It very clearly happens a lot here. Just a factual answer for OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Definitely true but even near DTSS redshirting is very common as there are plenty of middle class and UMC people who do it.

No, its not. And, MCPS needs to stop allowing it. I don't know anyone who did it. If OP has delays she needs a new preschool as they aren't meeting his needs and get him into private services.

Sorry, it IS common at our DTSS school. My kid in second grade has tons of friends with summer birthdays and they are 50/50 younger versus older. My child in kindergarten, I don’t know the class as well yet but there is at least one summer red shirt I’m aware of. I’d be surprised if there aren’t more. At my kids’ preschool, there were multiple examples.

No, it’s not common at all. And, something is wrong with your preschool if they have that many kids who need held back.

I am starting to think you are either from a very poor neighborhood or possibly you just don’t know your friends’ kids.

I actually don’t like redshirting very much. I think it creates inequity. It very clearly happens a lot here. Just a factual answer for OP.

*kids’ friends

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Definitely true but even near DTSS redshirting is very common as there are plenty of middle class and UMC people who do it.

No, its not. And, MCPS needs to stop allowing it. I don't know anyone who did it. If OP has delays she needs a new preschool as they aren't meeting his needs and get him into private services.

Baloney! You may not know anyone that you know did it, but I’ll bet there are plenty of people you know who haven’t told you they redshirted their kids. Do you poll the parents on their kids birthdays? Sneak into the office and look at the records? Do you expect that redshirting parents will declare their decision in initial introductions? I have no idea looking at the other kids in my kids’ classes who has been redshirted and who hasn’t. Whether or not a child had been redshirted, why they may have been redshirted, and what services they may have had, are absolutely NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Moreover, a child may benefit from an extra year to mature, even if they’re not delayed. Even if they have delays that require some sort of assistance, kindergarten enrollment isn’t a requirement. The county offers screenings and services through Childfind to children starting at age 3, and has an infant and toddlers program that can assist from birth.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/child-find/

Not to mention, there’s a benefit to their classmates by waiting to start them when they’re better able to maintain focus, regulate their emotions, listen and follow directions, etc., which means they are leas likely to be distracting/disruptive. Education isn’t a competition or a zero-sum game. If a redshirted kid does better than they would have otherwise, it doesn’t mean it’s to the detriment of the on-time kids. Because kids are all unique individuals, circumstances vary, and life is messy and complex, there is rarely a “correct” answer, let alone a universal one that can be applied to all kids based on a single point of data like their birthday. Instead, each parent has to decide what is best for their individual child, recognizing that all options will have various pros and cons that they need to balance. Ultimately, helping each child succeed as much as possible helps not only that child, but the classroom and thus their peers, not to mention society as a whole.

Frankly, since K has transitioned from a traditional half-day play-based program to a full-day academic program, it’s really more similar to a traditional first grade, and I don’t think it’s developmentally appropriate for most 5 year olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Definitely true but even near DTSS redshirting is very common as there are plenty of middle class and UMC people who do it.

No, its not. And, MCPS needs to stop allowing it. I don't know anyone who did it. If OP has delays she needs a new preschool as they aren't meeting his needs and get him into private services.

Baloney! You may not know anyone that you know did it, but I’ll bet there are plenty of people you know who haven’t told you they redshirted their kids. Do you poll the parents on their kids birthdays? Sneak into the office and look at the records? Do you expect that redshirting parents will declare their decision in initial introductions? I have no idea looking at the other kids in my kids’ classes who has been redshirted and who hasn’t. Whether or not a child had been redshirted, why they may have been redshirted, and what services they may have had, are absolutely NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Moreover, a child may benefit from an extra year to mature, even if they’re not delayed. Even if they have delays that require some sort of assistance, kindergarten enrollment isn’t a requirement. The county offers screenings and services through Childfind to children starting at age 3, and has an infant and toddlers program that can assist from birth.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/child-find/

Not to mention, there’s a benefit to their classmates by waiting to start them when they’re better able to maintain focus, regulate their emotions, listen and follow directions, etc., which means they are leas likely to be distracting/disruptive. Education isn’t a competition or a zero-sum game. If a redshirted kid does better than they would have otherwise, it doesn’t mean it’s to the detriment of the on-time kids. Because kids are all unique individuals, circumstances vary, and life is messy and complex, there is rarely a “correct” answer, let alone a universal one that can be applied to all kids based on a single point of data like their birthday. Instead, each parent has to decide what is best for their individual child, recognizing that all options will have various pros and cons that they need to balance. Ultimately, helping each child succeed as much as possible helps not only that child, but the classroom and thus their peers, not to mention society as a whole.

Frankly, since K has transitioned from a traditional half-day play-based program to a full-day academic program, it’s really more similar to a traditional first grade, and I don’t think it’s developmentally appropriate for most 5 year olds.

Getting off topic here but oh my gosh I agree with this so much. My kids did not have borderline birthdays so there was never a question, but kindergarten isn’t what it used to be and it’s not for the best.

[Anonymous]

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

We are at an ES in the Whitman HS cluster and I would say parents with a July/Aug birthday kid who they’re on the fence about preparedness-wise do redshirt. There’s usually a developmental or social reason, it doesn’t seem to be purely that they want their kid to have an advantage (though, I realize, few parents would likely admit to this). On the other hand, many private schools in the area do push summer birthday kids (even May/June), girls and boys, to redshirt regardless. Summer birthday kids who are meeting their developmental milestones and have no major social issues are generally sent on time at our ES school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

We are at an ES in the Whitman HS cluster and I would say parents with a July/Aug birthday kid who they’re on the fence about preparedness-wise do redshirt. There’s usually a developmental or social reason, it doesn’t seem to be purely that they want their kid to have an advantage (though, I realize, few parents would likely admit to this). On the other hand, many private schools in the area do push summer birthday kids (even May/June), girls and boys, to redshirt regardless. Summer birthday kids who are meeting their developmental milestones and have no major social issues are generally sent on time at our ES school.

Whitman is different as everyone is trying to get an edge. It shouldn't be allowed as it skews the peer group and expectations. If there are developmental or social reasons, these kids should be sent to a special preschool as their preschool failed them or in services to use that year to catch up. In truth its used as an excuse to level up kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Definitely true but even near DTSS redshirting is very common as there are plenty of middle class and UMC people who do it.

No, its not. And, MCPS needs to stop allowing it. I don't know anyone who did it. If OP has delays she needs a new preschool as they aren't meeting his needs and get him into private services.

Baloney! You may not know anyone that you know did it, but I’ll bet there are plenty of people you know who haven’t told you they redshirted their kids. Do you poll the parents on their kids birthdays? Sneak into the office and look at the records? Do you expect that redshirting parents will declare their decision in initial introductions? I have no idea looking at the other kids in my kids’ classes who has been redshirted and who hasn’t. Whether or not a child had been redshirted, why they may have been redshirted, and what services they may have had, are absolutely NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Moreover, a child may benefit from an extra year to mature, even if they’re not delayed. Even if they have delays that require some sort of assistance, kindergarten enrollment isn’t a requirement. The county offers screenings and services through Childfind to children starting at age 3, and has an infant and toddlers program that can assist from birth.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/child-find/

Not to mention, there’s a benefit to their classmates by waiting to start them when they’re better able to maintain focus, regulate their emotions, listen and follow directions, etc., which means they are leas likely to be distracting/disruptive. Education isn’t a competition or a zero-sum game. If a redshirted kid does better than they would have otherwise, it doesn’t mean it’s to the detriment of the on-time kids. Because kids are all unique individuals, circumstances vary, and life is messy and complex, there is rarely a “correct” answer, let alone a universal one that can be applied to all kids based on a single point of data like their birthday. Instead, each parent has to decide what is best for their individual child, recognizing that all options will have various pros and cons that they need to balance. Ultimately, helping each child succeed as much as possible helps not only that child, but the classroom and thus their peers, not to mention society as a whole.

Frankly, since K has transitioned from a traditional half-day play-based program to a full-day academic program, it’s really more similar to a traditional first grade, and I don’t think it’s developmentally appropriate for most 5 year olds.

Its everyone's business as it impacts the younger kids who do go on time. K is very appropriate for 5 year olds and people like you who don't prepare their kids then hold them back are the problem. Play based don't prepare kids for K and it shows. We pulled our kids out of a play based for a more structured program and it was far better and prepared them. The issue isn't the kids, its the preschools and parents. K was never a half day or play based here. K is where kids start to learn. If the 3-5 years of preschool/day care didn't help with their developmental or social needs, one more year isn't going to fix that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Definitely true but even near DTSS redshirting is very common as there are plenty of middle class and UMC people who do it.

No, its not. And, MCPS needs to stop allowing it. I don't know anyone who did it. If OP has delays she needs a new preschool as they aren't meeting his needs and get him into private services.

Sorry, it IS common at our DTSS school. My kid in second grade has tons of friends with summer birthdays and they are 50/50 younger versus older. My child in kindergarten, I don’t know the class as well yet but there is at least one summer red shirt I’m aware of. I’d be surprised if there aren’t more. At my kids’ preschool, there were multiple examples.

No, it’s not common at all. And, something is wrong with your preschool if they have that many kids who need held back.

I am starting to think you are either from a very poor neighborhood or possibly you just don’t know your friends’ kids.

I actually don’t like redshirting very much. I think it creates inequity. It very clearly happens a lot here. Just a factual answer for OP.

Its parents trying to game the system to make their kids smarter. It works in the early years, but far better is to supplement outside of MCPS as it catches up to the kids come MS and HS and you cannot change IQ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Definitely true but even near DTSS redshirting is very common as there are plenty of middle class and UMC people who do it.

No, its not. And, MCPS needs to stop allowing it. I don't know anyone who did it. If OP has delays she needs a new preschool as they aren't meeting his needs and get him into private services.

Baloney! You may not know anyone that you know did it, but I’ll bet there are plenty of people you know who haven’t told you they redshirted their kids. Do you poll the parents on their kids birthdays? Sneak into the office and look at the records? Do you expect that redshirting parents will declare their decision in initial introductions? I have no idea looking at the other kids in my kids’ classes who has been redshirted and who hasn’t. Whether or not a child had been redshirted, why they may have been redshirted, and what services they may have had, are absolutely NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Moreover, a child may benefit from an extra year to mature, even if they’re not delayed. Even if they have delays that require some sort of assistance, kindergarten enrollment isn’t a requirement. The county offers screenings and services through Childfind to children starting at age 3, and has an infant and toddlers program that can assist from birth.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/special-education/programs-services/child-find/

Not to mention, there’s a benefit to their classmates by waiting to start them when they’re better able to maintain focus, regulate their emotions, listen and follow directions, etc., which means they are leas likely to be distracting/disruptive. Education isn’t a competition or a zero-sum game. If a redshirted kid does better than they would have otherwise, it doesn’t mean it’s to the detriment of the on-time kids. Because kids are all unique individuals, circumstances vary, and life is messy and complex, there is rarely a “correct” answer, let alone a universal one that can be applied to all kids based on a single point of data like their birthday. Instead, each parent has to decide what is best for their individual child, recognizing that all options will have various pros and cons that they need to balance. Ultimately, helping each child succeed as much as possible helps not only that child, but the classroom and thus their peers, not to mention society as a whole.

Frankly, since K has transitioned from a traditional half-day play-based program to a full-day academic program, it’s really more similar to a traditional first grade, and I don’t think it’s developmentally appropriate for most 5 year olds.

Its everyone's business as it impacts the younger kids who do go on time. K is very appropriate for 5 year olds and people like you who don't prepare their kids then hold them back are the problem. Play based don't prepare kids for K and it shows. We pulled our kids out of a play based for a more structured program and it was far better and prepared them. The issue isn't the kids, its the preschools and parents. K was never a half day or play based here. K is where kids start to learn. If the 3-5 years of preschool/day care didn't help with their developmental or social needs, one more year isn't going to fix that.

Wow! You seem to be making some pretty strong assumptions for someone who knows nothing about the kids in question, especially since you can’t even get your actual facts right.

According to their website, full-day K wasn’t implemented in all MCPS schools until 2006.
https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=1962

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

NY does not allow redshirting. But MCPS does. If you want to do it, move here for sure.

[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?

In MCPS it is 100% your choice. No friction.

[Anonymous]

MCPS allows the option. We seriously explored it for our August bday kid who is now in college. We ultimately decided against redshirting but there were several redshirted kids in his grade. We are in Potomac.

One thing to consider is that it’s not always advised to redshirt kids with a disability. If they seem a little immature, the extra year can be a real gift. But if they have a disability, the disability will still be there a few years later and it can feel awful to be both the oldest kid and the kid who struggles. This is why we ultimately sent ours on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS allows the option. We seriously explored it for our August bday kid who is now in college. We ultimately decided against redshirting but there were several redshirted kids in his grade. We are in Potomac.

One thing to consider is that it’s not always advised to redshirt kids with a disability. If they seem a little immature, the extra year can be a real gift. But if they have a disability, the disability will still be there a few years later and it can feel awful to be both the oldest kid and the kid who struggles. This is why we ultimately sent ours on time.

My July birthday kid has adhd (diagnosed grade 1) and sending him on time was a huge mistake. No one cares how old anyone is. If you are worried your kid isn’t read then best to hold them back. There are some private transitional K programs you could use to see how they do and then repeat K in public or move to first grade depending

[Anonymous]

One thing to keep in mind- MCPS will likely be ok with redshirting, but don’t start your child in NY and then move hoping to repeat a year- this is not something that is easily done… once you start in school, you will continue to the next grade…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS allows the option. We seriously explored it for our August bday kid who is now in college. We ultimately decided against redshirting but there were several redshirted kids in his grade. We are in Potomac.

One thing to consider is that it’s not always advised to redshirt kids with a disability. If they seem a little immature, the extra year can be a real gift. But if they have a disability, the disability will still be there a few years later and it can feel awful to be both the oldest kid and the kid who struggles. This is why we ultimately sent ours on time.

It’s not extra a gift and they are missing out on education and support.