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Trend Name: Academic Redshirting Basic Summary of Trend: More and more parents are deciding to postpone their children's entry into kindergarten as an "academic edge" until they are a year older than the other children in the classroom. One common reason behind this trend is that many parents feel school standards have been raised too high as to improve performance on standardized testing. Basic Work: Although many parents feel that they are benefitting the child, studies show that academic redshirting may have a negative impact. Parents often feel that their children are not ready for the pressures of school, and the high expectations set for them to achieve. However, studies show that on average, older children do not academically outperform younger children, there have been found to be no social or emotional benefits, and the children who are being held out on kindergarten are usually the ones who need it most. Additionally, a challenge has been posed for teachers as they are forced to teach a greater age span and developmentally appropriate activities may be difficult to plan for all. In effect, as not all children are on a similar learning level, many end up on one side of the spectrum, either bored or clueless.

Key Manifestations: Although a specific person or group of people cannot be labeled in supporting or opposing academic redshirting, there are numerous authors who have provided information on the subject to people such as parents and educators. Of these writers, some include Sean A. Taylor (__What To Do With Lee__), Marshall Hermine (__Opportunity Deferred or Opportunity Taken__), John Holloway (__When Children Aren’t Ready for Kindergarten__), Kristen Warder (__Born in December, Ready for Kindergarten?__) and many, many more.

Key Personnel: Lilian G. Katz is author of the article, "Academic Redshirting and Young Children" which discusses academic red shirting. Lilian G. Katz believes that parents are the deciding factor as to whether to keep their children out of kindergarten for an extra year. Another key personnel is Elizabeth M. Graue. She is a director of the Wisconsin Spencer Doctoral Research Program at the University of Wisconsin. Her involvement with this trend is the publication of the article titled, "Redshirting and Early Retention: Who gets the 'gift' of time and What Are its Outcomes?" This article also discusses the pros and cons of this trend. Why/How a trend? As this is becoming more predominant in schools throughout the country, and more parents are seeing the possible positive effects it could have on their child, it is becoming a trend. In fact, statistics show that nine percent of kindergarten-age children in 2000 had contributed to this trend, and the numbers continue to rise each year. Links: [|http://www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=9125] [|http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/2000/katzred00.pdf] [|http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/news/coverStories/pros_cons_holding_out.php] http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/digests/2000/katzred00.pdf