California also has (had) December 31 cut off. Every state has a different cut off law and with the transient military population in and out of here you might have a kid young for a grade here but not young in another state.

Anonymous wrote:In New York City kids can start Kindergarten at 4 if their birthday is before Dec 31st.
MY DD kid is 14 and a sophomore. .

So, she's set to go away to college at 17? Did you think about that at the time?

In New York City kids can start Kindergarten at 4 if their birthday is before Dec 31st.
MY DD kid is 14 and a sophomore. .

Anonymous wrote:I know redshirting is controversial and some districts have made it illegal. Is it even an option in FCPS? I have a kid with significant developmental delays who will qualify for an IEP. He’s doing okay in a private preschool right now, but he is in a class with kids a year younger. We are debating whether to start him in kindergarten on time or hold him back a year, but I don’t know if redshirting is even an option. Anyone know the current policy?

Yes, it's absolutely an option. We did it and never looked back. An extra year was exactly what our DC needed.

The answer is yes, geez. Send him to kindergarten at 6.

Virginia state law allows redshirting. If your child is 5 by Sept 30, you do not need to enroll them in kindergarten, but can put them in preschool or other alternative program. See the text below.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, every parent, guardian, or other person in the Commonwealth having control or charge of any child who will have reached the fifth birthday on or before September 30 of any school year and who has not passed the eighteenth birthday shall, during the period of each year the public schools are in session and for the same number of days and hours per day as the public schools, cause such child to attend a public school or a private, denominational, or parochial school or have such child taught by a tutor or teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board and approved by the division superintendent, or provide for home instruction of such child as described in § 22.1-254.1.

As prescribed in the regulations of the Board, the requirements of this section may also be satisfied by causing a child to attend an alternative program of study or work/study offered by a public, private, denominational, or parochial school or by a public or private degree-granting institution of higher education. Further, in the case of any five-year-old child who is subject to the provisions of this subsection, the requirements of this section may be alternatively satisfied by causing the child to attend any public educational pre-kindergarten program, including a Head Start program, or in a private, denominational, or parochial educational pre-kindergarten program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love if FCPS did what DCPS is doing. A doctor's note for legitimate issues could make for an exception but otherwise, no need for redshirting.

+1!

-1000 Every child is unique. Let each family decide what is best for their families.

+1
I don't need some busybody determining whether my child should start on time or not. We agonized over the decision because our July bday son had speech issues and wasn't communicating well. Decided to hold him back and never, ever regretted it. He needed that extra time to catch up verbally. It was never an issue then or later. People really need to mind their own business and just be grateful if their own child has no issues.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think star trek cosplay is banned in fcps

Best answer of all

I don't think star trek cosplay is banned in fcps

Anonymous wrote:My kids class last year only had 1 kid who was redshirted. It was a summer birthday boy. He came in much larger than everyone else and had no friends because he was mean. There must have been an IEP as he had an aide on day 1. But honestly, whatever the school did seemed to really benefit him vs whatever he was getting beforehand. He really improved as the year went on. Sometimes I wonder if he could have been helped sooner by starting on time. On the other hand, maybe he just needed more time to work things out. It's a really tough call.

+1 K teacher

I'm in favor of parents making the decision.
I had a friend whose child was recommended for it (small, late Sept bday). She refused. Smart kid, but immature.
I still think she made a mistake.

Size does not matter, but maturity does.

My kids class last year only had 1 kid who was redshirted. It was a summer birthday boy. He came in much larger than everyone else and had no friends because he was mean. There must have been an IEP as he had an aide on day 1. But honestly, whatever the school did seemed to really benefit him vs whatever he was getting beforehand. He really improved as the year went on. Sometimes I wonder if he could have been helped sooner by starting on time. On the other hand, maybe he just needed more time to work things out. It's a really tough call.