OP,

My micropreemie with autism/ADHD/dysgraphia/dyscalculia and a speech disorder repeated K: one year in a preschool Kindergarten, and one year in MCPS Kindergarten. He got so academically bored that he skipped first grade and landed back with same-aged peers. He graduated high school with a dozen AP courses.

It's hard to know how to manage children with a wide range of deficits but also talents. My son is twice exceptional and we prioritized his academic wellbeing above any potential social benefit (that didn't seem to materialize anyway, since he's a classic autistic person).

So just know that what you decide now doesn't need to define his entire trajectory. He can still change course later, in some way.
It might be hard to persuade schools of this, but the Principal at Bethesda Elementary allowed it.

Anonymous wrote:I still think in a populous county such as MCPS they should matriculate the kids by semester. That way you don't have the redshiterd problem.

That would mess up high school sports which, whether you want to accept it or not, is a pretty big deal.

I still think in a populous county such as MCPS they should matriculate the kids by semester. That way you don't have the redshiterd problem.

Back in the early 90s, I did not turn 5 until mid October of my Kindergarten year. There were tons of kids in that boat.

Do we think MCPS is going to deploy the truant officers to go after the parents of young 5 year olds?

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who redshirted her boys. Of course now she complains that they are bored at school.

omg same

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am OK with scholastic red shirting I suppose but they should still have to play sports at their age-appropriate level. Isn't that like being held back a year though? I guess my kids are more on the other end of the spectrum doing schoolwork and sports above grade. How would that work, kids doing 4/5 math in third grade?

red shirting is a cute term for holding back.

In some cases, it's developmentally appropriate (and in those cases the teachers will be the ones suggesting to hold the child back). But in other cases, it's a way for parents to push their kids ahead with an unfair advantage. I did notice that several kids who were accepted to CES in my kid's ES were red shirted or were among the oldest in their grade. MAP testing isn't age normed the way COGAT testing is, so it's easier to game it for magnet admissions.

OP says her kids are lagging developmentally, but in that case, I would assume the school would also opine on the appropriate grade level.

Anonymous wrote:I am OK with scholastic red shirting I suppose but they should still have to play sports at their age-appropriate level. Isn't that like being held back a year though? I guess my kids are more on the other end of the spectrum doing schoolwork and sports above grade. How would that work, kids doing 4/5 math in third grade?

red shirting is a cute term for holding back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kids are developmentally on target, why would you do this?

OP Here:

My kids are not developmentally on target. They were months premature and have been in PT, speech, OT, etc pretty much since both. We suspect an ADHD diagnosis for one kid and are in the (long) process of having him assessed. Both kids are currently repeating PreK 3 as recommended by their preschool.

*since birth.

Also, not sure it's relevant, but this is a W school cluster.

If they are in a regular preschool, its better to send them on time so they can get supports in school.

In my old district it was common for parents to have their kids repeat 5th grade in order to have a year of growth and experience advantage for sports in middle school and HS.

That wouldn't work here in MCPS because MCPS has a rule where any kid who turns 19 prior to August 31st is ineligible to play sports that year.

I am OK with scholastic red shirting I suppose but they should still have to play sports at their age-appropriate level. Isn't that like being held back a year though? I guess my kids are more on the other end of the spectrum doing schoolwork and sports above grade. How would that work, kids doing 4/5 math in third grade?

I have a friend who redshirted her boys. Of course now she complains that they are bored at school.

This is the first I am hearing of this potential policy but I’ve been in MCPS a long time and many dcum rumors that haven’t been formally communicated to anyone turn out to be true.

That said, I am a mom of twins who were preemies with summer birthdays and some challenges. We sent them on time. They are doing great years later. Any specific challenges they have had, they would have had regardless of whether I’d sent them on time or redshirted them.

Anonymous wrote:Have not heard about this, but if it's happening, and if it were to stary Fall 2026, then I think that would mean 5 year-olds at that time would need to start K. But for kids who are currently 5 but not in K now, making them start in 1st next year wouldn't make sense.

Not sure if it’s still the case, but I know some schools in the Chicago area had this for both K and 1st grade, so all 5 year olds go to K and all 6 year olds go to 1st, whether or not they went to K. Lots of parents got around this by putting their kids in private for K/1 and moving their 8 year olds into public for 2nd grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kids are developmentally on target, why would you do this?

OP Here:

My kids are not developmentally on target. They were months premature and have been in PT, speech, OT, etc pretty much since both. We suspect an ADHD diagnosis for one kid and are in the (long) process of having him assessed. Both kids are currently repeating PreK 3 as recommended by their preschool.

*since birth.

Also, not sure it's relevant, but this is a W school cluster.