Reply to Redshirting consequences at Lafayette

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have not read this entire thread, but only recently became aware of this issue. Has anybody here discussed the unfairness of redshirting to those who have late summer boys who don't or can't redshirt? My now college age August born boy struggled all throughout school because of his young age in comparison to boys--and girls--who were sometime over 18 months older than him. And he was not alone. DC is right to enforce the rules--no vanity redshirting.[/quote]
This is a perfect case of how a birth date doesn’t tell the whole story. Some kids are ready a year early. Some kids are ready a year late. Most are fine right on time. There should be flexibility so that each child’s needs are met.[/quote]

If she was in DCPS, the reason why is because DCPS doesn't allow it. They don't allow redshirting at parental discretion, and they don't allow holding back.

This is why people hate the Lafayette parents. The rest of us suffer under these rules, but the Lafayette parents want an exception for their kids only. No. Either change the rules for everyone or not, but why are only families at certain schools in certain parts of town getting this? It is not ethical.[/quote]

There's IS a promotion and retention policy. See here: https://dcps.dc.gov/publication/student-promotion-policy

Kids can be held back at principal's discretion once enrolled in DCPS.[/quote]

At principal's discretion. Not parents. IME they only hold back if there are severe academic deficits. They don't hold kids back for social reasons. I have an August birthday. Our request to redshirt was denied. Our suggestions to hold back have been rejected. Our child is above grade level academically but struggling a lot with emotional maturity -- extremely shy, highly sensitive. This is not considered a reason to retain.[/quote]

Emotional maturity is something that can be considered, at principal's discretion, for PK and K retention. Sounds like your principal just didn't think your case merited it. From the policy:

"Note: If a student in pre-K or kindergarten has met the proficiency requirements in the core subject areas but 
is not deemed ready for promotion to kindergarten or 1st grade by a teacher or a parent due to functional 
skill level in the areas of physical, social, or emotional development, an option to repeat pre-K or 
kindergarten may be considered without being designated as a retention."[/quote]

Outside of these small number of schools in upper northwest, the only way "emotional immaturity" will be used to justify redshirting is if a kid has serious family dysfunction or special needs.

That's the whole problem. Different standards were being used across the city. Principals at a few wealthy schools in one part of town were broadly allowing redshirting just because a parent felt it was merited. And in the rest of the city, this wasn't being allowed.  Does that seem right? Nope.

What happened to these parents at Lafayette is what has happened to other parents throughout the city for years who have sought to redshirt summer birthdays. Barring special needs, it just has not been allowed. The problem with the Lafayette parents is that they perceive themselves as being discriminated against somehow, when the opposite is the case -- other families have been dealing with this crappy application of the rule for years, and now the Lafayette parents are too. There was discrimination, but it was to their benefit for a long time and now it's "equal."

If the Lafayette parents could pull their heads out of their butts for long enough to understand this, perhaps they could make a more compelling argument than "but we've had this great deal no one else had for years and we're mad we don't have it any more." Like maybe: wow now that we are being forced to follow the district rules we really understand how unfair they are and how hard they are on kids with August and September birthdays who may just not be ready for K. Let's all band together to change this rule for everyone.

Instead they are just looking to extend the exemption for their kids, because they only care about their kids and not about anyone else's kids.

Well guess what, I guess that means I don't care about their kids either. Suck it up, buttercups.[/quote]

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