Anonymous wrote:December 31st was the cut off until very recently.

ANY one can go to Bethune and start at 2.5 -- it is completely fair. There is NO guarantee of any child ages 3/4 getting preschool. Guarantee starts in K.

Actually, that was the exception, not the rule. Go back and search "schools with December cut-off" on this site. Bethune and Bridges would show up as exceptions to the Sept. 30th rule and Bridges has a lot of special ed students who get early services. September 30th has been the rule for a LONG time. Nothing new about that.

"My child would be highly gifted if we held him back. I would rather him be at an appropriate level and gifted vs. highly gifted if you base it on test scores."

This is not how giftedness works. You either are gifted or you are not. And if you are, one grade level of regular school isn't enough to meet your needs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. I already think it’s ridiculous that two year olds can start if they turn 3 in September. I know that’s the district cut off age but I’ve subbed in so many prek classes and the difference between those very young children and the already three year olds is pretty big. It might not matter later on in age but between late 2 and middle 3 there is a huge difference.

As a first grade teacher, trust me, it's continues to be a big deal. You can go down the data of our incoming kids and tell by how high or low they are when their birthday is. The kids who are five at the beginning of first grade are, with almost no exceptions, the lowest performers in the class, have less stamina, and have more behavior problems. The age-related maturity issue lasts well beyond pk3

I have a fall birthday child and he's doing very well in school and in the highest groups and he's easily a year younger than many of his friends. Funny thing, his teacher last year probably would have said that but she was a lousy teacher. Now, new teacher who really gets him and takes the time and he's now one of the top kids and thriving. Ever consider its your teaching and classroom style? My kid would be so bored if he was a year behind. He's already met the bench marks for this year per their testing.

There is evidence that older children do better. Maybe you’re child doesn’t fit into that sample but why do you think redshirting is such an issue in America now?

No, my child was in a private with a lot of younger kids and all are thriving. The school took the time in the early grades, including preK to give the kids the foundation they needed to be successful. My child would be highly gifted if we held him back. I would rather him be at an appropriate level and gifted vs. highly gifted if you base it on test scores. It has to do with the academic expectations and it gives you a false level if you hold your child back as it doesn't make them smarter and if anything you are dumbing them down. Teachers push for kids to be held back as its easier for them. Less for them to have to do. Its not about the kids but teachers. People have a false impression their kids will do better if they are held back, some it is true but many would be fine either way with the right teacher and curriculum. It also helps parents who are not very involved and expect kids to do homework and learn on their own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. I already think it’s ridiculous that two year olds can start if they turn 3 in September. I know that’s the district cut off age but I’ve subbed in so many prek classes and the difference between those very young children and the already three year olds is pretty big. It might not matter later on in age but between late 2 and middle 3 there is a huge difference.

As a first grade teacher, trust me, it's continues to be a big deal. You can go down the data of our incoming kids and tell by how high or low they are when their birthday is. The kids who are five at the beginning of first grade are, with almost no exceptions, the lowest performers in the class, have less stamina, and have more behavior problems. The age-related maturity issue lasts well beyond pk3

I have a fall birthday child and he's doing very well in school and in the highest groups and he's easily a year younger than many of his friends. Funny thing, his teacher last year probably would have said that but she was a lousy teacher. Now, new teacher who really gets him and takes the time and he's now one of the top kids and thriving. Ever consider its your teaching and classroom style? My kid would be so bored if he was a year behind. He's already met the bench marks for this year per their testing.

There is evidence that older children do better. Maybe you’re child doesn’t fit into that sample but why do you think redshirting is such an issue in America now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. I already think it’s ridiculous that two year olds can start if they turn 3 in September. I know that’s the district cut off age but I’ve subbed in so many prek classes and the difference between those very young children and the already three year olds is pretty big. It might not matter later on in age but between late 2 and middle 3 there is a huge difference.

As a first grade teacher, trust me, it's continues to be a big deal. You can go down the data of our incoming kids and tell by how high or low they are when their birthday is. The kids who are five at the beginning of first grade are, with almost no exceptions, the lowest performers in the class, have less stamina, and have more behavior problems. The age-related maturity issue lasts well beyond pk3

I have a fall birthday child and he's doing very well in school and in the highest groups and he's easily a year younger than many of his friends. Funny thing, his teacher last year probably would have said that but she was a lousy teacher. Now, new teacher who really gets him and takes the time and he's now one of the top kids and thriving. Ever consider its your teaching and classroom style? My kid would be so bored if he was a year behind. He's already met the bench marks for this year per their testing.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neighbors daughter is 2 and can barely talk or barely potty trained and goes to Mary McLeod Bethune. She turns 3 December 15th

How is this ok with the charter board? (And I'm in general a proponent of cross sector collaboration and public choice)

They are allowed to do this. It wasn’t that long ago that the whole city’s deadline was Nov 30.

No, it was pretty long ago. September 30th has been the standard since at least when I enrolled my (now) 8th grader in DC public preschool.

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. I already think it’s ridiculous that two year olds can start if they turn 3 in September. I know that’s the district cut off age but I’ve subbed in so many prek classes and the difference between those very young children and the already three year olds is pretty big. It might not matter later on in age but between late 2 and middle 3 there is a huge difference.

As a first grade teacher, trust me, it's continues to be a big deal. You can go down the data of our incoming kids and tell by how high or low they are when their birthday is. The kids who are five at the beginning of first grade are, with almost no exceptions, the lowest performers in the class, have less stamina, and have more behavior problems. The age-related maturity issue lasts well beyond pk3

The official standard cut off is September 30. There is some leeway for schools and principals to make exceptions (including for red shirting in the other direction). So, it's not a 'law,' it's a policy and a guideline.

Someone mentioned LAMB. LAMB now has a cut off of September 30th.

To each is own. My daughter has a November birthday and just turned 2. Not thrilled nor pressed to send her to school early. They have over 12 years of school if you include kindergarten and Pre K for structure so a more informal learning environment is good for me but again to each is own. I will revisit next year. I'm not opposed to sending my child to Pre K 3 when they will turn 4 in November. Who cares. It's not that serious. Some people are so eager for their kids to be in school.

Especially on the private school board. Their kids are 6 months and 1 year old and they're already asking about age requirements.

December 31st was the cut off until very recently.

ANY one can go to Bethune and start at 2.5 -- it is completely fair. There is NO guarantee of any child ages 3/4 getting preschool. Guarantee starts in K.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is no one going to point out that it’s inappropriate for someone to disclose in a public forum information gained in a confidential social services intake interview? That’s what troubles me here.

Yes!!!!!!! I was about to comment about this.

But there's nothing to identify the family in question. Sincere question, what is the problem with op's post then?

I don’t think someone who is working or volunteering for dcps and under a confidentiality agreement should be posting anything about the records that they are going through. It might not be identifying to YOU but what if a parent here is like “hmm you know there is a very young child in my kids class, I’m going to start digging around for information”. If this person had a problem about this, they should have went to the administration or someone above, not post about it on an anonymous message board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is no one going to point out that it’s inappropriate for someone to disclose in a public forum information gained in a confidential social services intake interview? That’s what troubles me here.

Yes!!!!!!! I was about to comment about this.

But there's nothing to identify the family in question. Sincere question, what is the problem with op's post then?

On the one hand, if this was an under-filled school and a social services-eligible parent who really needed childcare, then I'm actually not sad about this outcome. This is probably the kind of kid who will massively benefit from earlier school exposure. On the other hand, as the mom of a 3 year old who is totally ready for preschool (attending a private for a year w/ a later cutoff that we can't really afford) and who misses the cutoff by hours, I find this very frustrating.

Anonymous wrote:Is no one going to point out that it’s inappropriate for someone to disclose in a public forum information gained in a confidential social services intake interview? That’s what troubles me here.

Yes!!!!!!! I was about to comment about this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The school in question is a DCPS. Kid will turn 3 at the end of January and does not have any special needs. (I was doing an intake with the parent for a social service and I guess she could have lied about the lack of participation in Strong Start or Early Stages). Anyway, the school admitted the child in mid-September, so obviously they had space and are not a sought-after school. I just get so tired of the culture of cheating/lying. What are we teaching our children?

Why are you assuming that this mother lied or cheated? It seems more plausible to me that the school, which is not full or sought after, allowed the child to come in. So it’s the principal that someone would need to talk to. Don’t you assume that the child is going to want to celebrate his or her birthday at school? I don’t the family would keep that a secret.

OP here--this is what I was talking about when I said lying/cheating. I don't think the mother lied at all. I'm putting the responsibility on the school for cheating as much as if not more than the parent. I don't really blame the parent--she needs child care.