Redshirting consequences at Lafayette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Why are these people getting so much press? This applies to like 10 children (per the article)?

Why is DCPS digging in if this isn’t a widespread problem? What kind of resources are they willing to commit to fighting so few students enrolling late?

DCPS isn't "digging in." They are finally enforcing a two-decades old policy that the entire rest of the city follows, at the small handful of upper NW elementaries that imagined themselves somehow exempt from this policy.

Also, the policy doesn't say that a kid will never be allowed to do K at 6. It's just that in DC, parents are not allowed to unilaterally make that decision. You have to do it through the school. This is the rule every other family in DC follows. That 10 families at wealthy schools in the city's richest neighborhoods somehow think it's "unfair" for them to follow it does not mean DC is "digging in." They are following the rule.

I live in another ward, have a kid with a summer birthday, and I had zero opportunity to redshirt. But these Lafayette parents should get it because.... they are richer than me? They can afford housing in more expensive neighborhoods? They can afford extra time in private PK whereas I relied on DCPS PK for financial reasons?

Tell me why they get special rules. What is it about their situation that means they deserve a separate system?

No, they should get it because their previous principal’s policy for years and years was that parents could redshirt if they chose to do so. He had the discretion to allow it. Then DCPS decided to start enforcing their official policy more vigorously and a new principal came to Lafayette. Apparently, no one made their community aware that redshirting was no longer up to the principal’s discretion, and therefore, registration age requirements that had not customarily been honored would now be enforced. Had they been made aware, they probably would have sent their kids on time. DCPS’s policy didn’t change, but Lafayette’s did — with no notice. Now DCPS is refusing to budge on this for just 10 families at one school, for one more time only, and has taken the extraordinary position that these children should skip kindergarten entirely. If decisions were being made based on what is best for these children, rather than making these parents an example, the kids would be enrolled in kindergarten this fall.

Wow you come off as entitled.

“But officer, I’ve been breaking this law for years and haven’t gotten in trouble, why are you deciding to now enforce the law as it’s been written this whole time???”

They weren’t breaking the law. They weren’t even violating DCPS policy, because DCPS policy left redshirting up to the principal’s discretion until recently. DCPS decided to change that aspect of policy enforcement at the same time these families redshirted these children. They were unaware. The kids shouldn’t be punished due to the change in enforcement. This is a problem of DCPS’s own making.

This isn't a problem of DCPS's making because, from DCPS's standpoint, there is no problem. These children will likely begin 1st grade testing higher academically than most 1st graders in the city, by dint of being from wealthy families with educated parents. On top of that, they've been attending preschool for several years.

The "problem", as these families perceive it, is that it is "unfair" for their kids to have to go straight to 1st grade. But academically and socially, they aren't really missing anything they didn't already receive in their private ECE. And no one else sees it as unfair for these families to be held to the same standards and rules as all the other families in the city. In fact, most of us see it as unfair that there was ever any discrepancy.

That is the problem of DCPS’s own making. They allowed principals discretion and then rescinded it.

If so, then they also feel they have solved this problem by rescinding that discretion. They do not view this kids having to go into 1st grade as a problem. They feel that is the appropriate grade for them and that they will be fine. Only the kids' families view this as a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Why are these people getting so much press? This applies to like 10 children (per the article)?

Why is DCPS digging in if this isn’t a widespread problem? What kind of resources are they willing to commit to fighting so few students enrolling late?

DCPS isn't "digging in." They are finally enforcing a two-decades old policy that the entire rest of the city follows, at the small handful of upper NW elementaries that imagined themselves somehow exempt from this policy.

Also, the policy doesn't say that a kid will never be allowed to do K at 6. It's just that in DC, parents are not allowed to unilaterally make that decision. You have to do it through the school. This is the rule every other family in DC follows. That 10 families at wealthy schools in the city's richest neighborhoods somehow think it's "unfair" for them to follow it does not mean DC is "digging in." They are following the rule.

I live in another ward, have a kid with a summer birthday, and I had zero opportunity to redshirt. But these Lafayette parents should get it because.... they are richer than me? They can afford housing in more expensive neighborhoods? They can afford extra time in private PK whereas I relied on DCPS PK for financial reasons?

Tell me why they get special rules. What is it about their situation that means they deserve a separate system?

No, they should get it because their previous principal’s policy for years and years was that parents could redshirt if they chose to do so. He had the discretion to allow it. Then DCPS decided to start enforcing their official policy more vigorously and a new principal came to Lafayette. Apparently, no one made their community aware that redshirting was no longer up to the principal’s discretion, and therefore, registration age requirements that had not customarily been honored would now be enforced. Had they been made aware, they probably would have sent their kids on time. DCPS’s policy didn’t change, but Lafayette’s did — with no notice. Now DCPS is refusing to budge on this for just 10 families at one school, for one more time only, and has taken the extraordinary position that these children should skip kindergarten entirely. If decisions were being made based on what is best for these children, rather than making these parents an example, the kids would be enrolled in kindergarten this fall.

Wow you come off as entitled.

“But officer, I’ve been breaking this law for years and haven’t gotten in trouble, why are you deciding to now enforce the law as it’s been written this whole time???”

They weren’t breaking the law. They weren’t even violating DCPS policy, because DCPS policy left redshirting up to the principal’s discretion until recently. DCPS decided to change that aspect of policy enforcement at the same time these families redshirted these children. They were unaware. The kids shouldn’t be punished due to the change in enforcement. This is a problem of DCPS’s own making.

This isn't a problem of DCPS's making because, from DCPS's standpoint, there is no problem. These children will likely begin 1st grade testing higher academically than most 1st graders in the city, by dint of being from wealthy families with educated parents. On top of that, they've been attending preschool for several years.

The "problem", as these families perceive it, is that it is "unfair" for their kids to have to go straight to 1st grade. But academically and socially, they aren't really missing anything they didn't already receive in their private ECE. And no one else sees it as unfair for these families to be held to the same standards and rules as all the other families in the city. In fact, most of us see it as unfair that there was ever any discrepancy.

That is the problem of DCPS’s own making. They allowed principals discretion and then rescinded it.

They seemed to basically have turned a blind eye moreso than giving them discretion but ultimately this lies with the parents for not approaching the school (that they're already daily) to discuss the situation. Even if you argue that principals had discretion the that's not a rubber stamp. That's discretion upon meeting with parents and assessing. These parents assumed they'd get to do whatever they wanted and never bothered to discuss with the school before going right ahead making the calculation that no one would ever dare stop them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Why are these people getting so much press? This applies to like 10 children (per the article)?

Why is DCPS digging in if this isn’t a widespread problem? What kind of resources are they willing to commit to fighting so few students enrolling late?

DCPS isn't "digging in." They are finally enforcing a two-decades old policy that the entire rest of the city follows, at the small handful of upper NW elementaries that imagined themselves somehow exempt from this policy.

Also, the policy doesn't say that a kid will never be allowed to do K at 6. It's just that in DC, parents are not allowed to unilaterally make that decision. You have to do it through the school. This is the rule every other family in DC follows. That 10 families at wealthy schools in the city's richest neighborhoods somehow think it's "unfair" for them to follow it does not mean DC is "digging in." They are following the rule.

I live in another ward, have a kid with a summer birthday, and I had zero opportunity to redshirt. But these Lafayette parents should get it because.... they are richer than me? They can afford housing in more expensive neighborhoods? They can afford extra time in private PK whereas I relied on DCPS PK for financial reasons?

Tell me why they get special rules. What is it about their situation that means they deserve a separate system?

No, they should get it because their previous principal’s policy for years and years was that parents could redshirt if they chose to do so. He had the discretion to allow it. Then DCPS decided to start enforcing their official policy more vigorously and a new principal came to Lafayette. Apparently, no one made their community aware that redshirting was no longer up to the principal’s discretion, and therefore, registration age requirements that had not customarily been honored would now be enforced. Had they been made aware, they probably would have sent their kids on time. DCPS’s policy didn’t change, but Lafayette’s did — with no notice. Now DCPS is refusing to budge on this for just 10 families at one school, for one more time only, and has taken the extraordinary position that these children should skip kindergarten entirely. If decisions were being made based on what is best for these children, rather than making these parents an example, the kids would be enrolled in kindergarten this fall.

This is incorrect. It was the new principal who started this by using her discretion to say no. Totally legit, since as you say, it was her discretion. You can’t say principals have to be allowed to have discretion and then trash the principal who uses it. Then Ava tried to get her in trouble with the IS (which she had previously done over the playground issue, so so very shocking the principal didn’t want to do her a favor here) and was surprised when the IS backed the principal. Then, as it blew up, DCPS doubled down on enforcing at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Avra Siegel needs to consider either private school or home-schooling. She clearly has the means, and clearly is staying with DCPS solely to pick fights at this point. She's doing no one any favors with this pointless crusade, including her own kids.

+1

She received a benefit that she wasn't entitled to. If she's unhappy with DCPS, then she (and others like her) should make other arrangements.

Or - you know - advocate for what you believe in and for change you think is necessary?

But wait because they live west of the park that’s not allowed?

[Anonymous]

[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Why are these people getting so much press? This applies to like 10 children (per the article)?

Why is DCPS digging in if this isn’t a widespread problem? What kind of resources are they willing to commit to fighting so few students enrolling late?

DCPS isn't "digging in." They are finally enforcing a two-decades old policy that the entire rest of the city follows, at the small handful of upper NW elementaries that imagined themselves somehow exempt from this policy.

Also, the policy doesn't say that a kid will never be allowed to do K at 6. It's just that in DC, parents are not allowed to unilaterally make that decision. You have to do it through the school. This is the rule every other family in DC follows. That 10 families at wealthy schools in the city's richest neighborhoods somehow think it's "unfair" for them to follow it does not mean DC is "digging in." They are following the rule.

I live in another ward, have a kid with a summer birthday, and I had zero opportunity to redshirt. But these Lafayette parents should get it because.... they are richer than me? They can afford housing in more expensive neighborhoods? They can afford extra time in private PK whereas I relied on DCPS PK for financial reasons?

Tell me why they get special rules. What is it about their situation that means they deserve a separate system?

I can tell you’re triggered being reminded that you live east of the park.

Do you get free after care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Avra Siegel needs to consider either private school or home-schooling. She clearly has the means, and clearly is staying with DCPS solely to pick fights at this point. She's doing no one any favors with this pointless crusade, including her own kids.

+1

She received a benefit that she wasn't entitled to. If she's unhappy with DCPS, then she (and others like her) should make other arrangements.

Or - you know - advocate for what you believe in and for change you think is necessary?

But wait because they live west of the park that’s not allowed?

I say this as a WOTP DCPS parent: go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Avra Siegel needs to consider either private school or home-schooling. She clearly has the means, and clearly is staying with DCPS solely to pick fights at this point. She's doing no one any favors with this pointless crusade, including her own kids.

+1

She received a benefit that she wasn't entitled to. If she's unhappy with DCPS, then she (and others like her) should make other arrangements.

Or - you know - advocate for what you believe in and for change you think is necessary?

But wait because they live west of the park that’s not allowed?

Who said anything about that? Your insecurity is showing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Why are these people getting so much press? This applies to like 10 children (per the article)?

Why is DCPS digging in if this isn’t a widespread problem? What kind of resources are they willing to commit to fighting so few students enrolling late?

DCPS isn't "digging in." They are finally enforcing a two-decades old policy that the entire rest of the city follows, at the small handful of upper NW elementaries that imagined themselves somehow exempt from this policy.

Also, the policy doesn't say that a kid will never be allowed to do K at 6. It's just that in DC, parents are not allowed to unilaterally make that decision. You have to do it through the school. This is the rule every other family in DC follows. That 10 families at wealthy schools in the city's richest neighborhoods somehow think it's "unfair" for them to follow it does not mean DC is "digging in." They are following the rule.

I live in another ward, have a kid with a summer birthday, and I had zero opportunity to redshirt. But these Lafayette parents should get it because.... they are richer than me? They can afford housing in more expensive neighborhoods? They can afford extra time in private PK whereas I relied on DCPS PK for financial reasons?

Tell me why they get special rules. What is it about their situation that means they deserve a separate system?

No, they should get it because their previous principal’s policy for years and years was that parents could redshirt if they chose to do so. He had the discretion to allow it. Then DCPS decided to start enforcing their official policy more vigorously and a new principal came to Lafayette. Apparently, no one made their community aware that redshirting was no longer up to the principal’s discretion, and therefore, registration age requirements that had not customarily been honored would now be enforced. Had they been made aware, they probably would have sent their kids on time. DCPS’s policy didn’t change, but Lafayette’s did — with no notice. Now DCPS is refusing to budge on this for just 10 families at one school, for one more time only, and has taken the extraordinary position that these children should skip kindergarten entirely. If decisions were being made based on what is best for these children, rather than making these parents an example, the kids would be enrolled in kindergarten this fall.

Wow you come off as entitled.

“But officer, I’ve been breaking this law for years and haven’t gotten in trouble, why are you deciding to now enforce the law as it’s been written this whole time???”

They weren’t breaking the law. They weren’t even violating DCPS policy, because DCPS policy left redshirting up to the principal’s discretion until recently. DCPS decided to change that aspect of policy enforcement at the same time these families redshirted these children. They were unaware. The kids shouldn’t be punished due to the change in enforcement. This is a problem of DCPS’s own making.

This isn't a problem of DCPS's making because, from DCPS's standpoint, there is no problem. These children will likely begin 1st grade testing higher academically than most 1st graders in the city, by dint of being from wealthy families with educated parents. On top of that, they've been attending preschool for several years.

The "problem", as these families perceive it, is that it is "unfair" for their kids to have to go straight to 1st grade. But academically and socially, they aren't really missing anything they didn't already receive in their private ECE. And no one else sees it as unfair for these families to be held to the same standards and rules as all the other families in the city. In fact, most of us see it as unfair that there was ever any discrepancy.

That is the problem of DCPS’s own making. They allowed principals discretion and then rescinded it.

They seemed to basically have turned a blind eye moreso than giving them discretion but ultimately this lies with the parents for not approaching the school (that they're already daily) to discuss the situation. Even if you argue that principals had discretion the that's not a rubber stamp. That's discretion upon meeting with parents and assessing. These parents assumed they'd get to do whatever they wanted and never bothered to discuss with the school before going right ahead making the calculation that no one would ever dare stop them.

This is not true. I think this is the most frustrating part of this thread. Is how the facts are lost or maybe never fully provided. Honestly at this point, DCPS has backed themselves into such a corner that a discovery if occurred would show that principals did promise families spots in Kindergarten and also that there are children with evaluations being denied entry to K.

I really really hope that you all think about what you’re saying and stop making such gross assumptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Avra Siegel needs to consider either private school or home-schooling. She clearly has the means, and clearly is staying with DCPS solely to pick fights at this point. She's doing no one any favors with this pointless crusade, including her own kids.

+1

She received a benefit that she wasn't entitled to. If she's unhappy with DCPS, then she (and others like her) should make other arrangements.

Or - you know - advocate for what you believe in and for change you think is necessary?

But wait because they live west of the park that’s not allowed?

I say this as a WOTP DCPS parent: go away.

Oh please. This entire thread has been slamming “rich” Lafayette families (including children) and my post is the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Why are these people getting so much press? This applies to like 10 children (per the article)?

Why is DCPS digging in if this isn’t a widespread problem? What kind of resources are they willing to commit to fighting so few students enrolling late?

DCPS isn't "digging in." They are finally enforcing a two-decades old policy that the entire rest of the city follows, at the small handful of upper NW elementaries that imagined themselves somehow exempt from this policy.

Also, the policy doesn't say that a kid will never be allowed to do K at 6. It's just that in DC, parents are not allowed to unilaterally make that decision. You have to do it through the school. This is the rule every other family in DC follows. That 10 families at wealthy schools in the city's richest neighborhoods somehow think it's "unfair" for them to follow it does not mean DC is "digging in." They are following the rule.

I live in another ward, have a kid with a summer birthday, and I had zero opportunity to redshirt. But these Lafayette parents should get it because.... they are richer than me? They can afford housing in more expensive neighborhoods? They can afford extra time in private PK whereas I relied on DCPS PK for financial reasons?

Tell me why they get special rules. What is it about their situation that means they deserve a separate system?

I can tell you’re triggered being reminded that you live east of the park.

Do you get free after care?

Are you listening to yourself?

Please, just move the suburbs or send your kids to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Avra Siegel needs to consider either private school or home-schooling. She clearly has the means, and clearly is staying with DCPS solely to pick fights at this point. She's doing no one any favors with this pointless crusade, including her own kids.

+1

She received a benefit that she wasn't entitled to. If she's unhappy with DCPS, then she (and others like her) should make other arrangements.

Or - you know - advocate for what you believe in and for change you think is necessary?

But wait because they live west of the park that’s not allowed?

I say this as a WOTP DCPS parent: go away.

Oh please. This entire thread has been slamming “rich” Lafayette families (including children) and my post is the problem?

No one is "slamming" children.

The thread isn't about all Lafayette parents. It's about a few specific, extremely entitled Lafayette parents. Who have kindly identified themselves and keep going out of their way to explain to the public and the media how entitled they are.

[Anonymous]

Well, DCPS doesn't want 10th graders to be held back even if they can't write their own names, so I guess it's consistent...

[Anonymous]

The notion that "'redshirting" is some trick that rich people use to get an unfair advantage for their kid seems utterly and completely ridiculous. It's not going to give them a leg up academically or athletically. If anything, it's going to give the kid a complex about why he or she is older than everyone else. But if the parent sees some problem that will be exacerbated by pushing their kid along, then I don't know why we don't give the parent the benefit of the doubt. They know their kid better than anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re still at it

https://wapo.st/405wrSF

Avra Siegel needs to consider either private school or home-schooling. She clearly has the means, and clearly is staying with DCPS solely to pick fights at this point. She's doing no one any favors with this pointless crusade, including her own kids.

+1

She received a benefit that she wasn't entitled to. If she's unhappy with DCPS, then she (and others like her) should make other arrangements.

Or - you know - advocate for what you believe in and for change you think is necessary?

But wait because they live west of the park that’s not allowed?

I say this as a WOTP DCPS parent: go away.

Oh please. This entire thread has been slamming “rich” Lafayette families (including children) and my post is the problem?

No one is "slamming" children.

The thread isn't about all Lafayette parents. It's about a few specific, extremely entitled Lafayette parents. Who have kindly identified themselves and keep going out of their way to explain to the public and the media how entitled they are.

This is your opinion and I disagree. They’re advocating for something they believe in and advocating for their child. In any other scenario this would be praised. Public Schooling should be a cooperative effort between families and the city. Not adversarial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IDK my kids are older and I didn’t redshirt but I think the negative comments are a little nuts. Let the kids go to kindergarten it’s not that big of a deal.

m

And then dcps would have to allow redshirting in other schools all over the city too.
Like the pp above who lives in a different part of the city and has a summer bday kid.
If the Lafayette kids get to go when their parents decide, then we should all get to decide too.
There has to be a cut off date.
Let the educators do their jobs.