Preparing Children of the Fittest: Analyzing Parental Motivations Behind the Practice of Academic Redshirting

• In Event: 44.085 - Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: 44.085-8 - Early Education and Child Development SIG Poster Session

Abstract

While it is known that redshirted children are more likely to come from White families of higher socioeconomic status, and are overwhelmingly boys, parental motivations to delay entry are unclear. Redshirting may give an unfair advantage to some and disadvantage those families for whom an extra year of pre-school is not a viable financial option. This comparative case study has examined parental motivation to redshirt and included one-on-one interviews. The study investigated the factors that influence parents to consider delayed entry as well as the distinctions between the group of parents who chose to redshirt and the group that did not, and the role these differences played.

Author

• Rosalyn R Washington, Atlanta Public Schools