Should you hold your child back a year? What parents need to know

If your child doesn’t seem ready for kindergarten or the next grade, what should you do? What if the school is suggesting that your child stay back? 

In this episode, we break down the real factors behind redshirting and grade retention. Guest Dr. Imani Irving-Perez, a lecturer on early childhood and special education, shares what to consider. She talks about social-emotional development, academic readiness, behavior, and more. You’ll learn what questions to ask schools, what the research says, and how to make a decision that supports your child now and later.

For more on this topic

• Listen: Need help advocating for your kid at school? We talk to a pro
• Read: Retention: Why kids are held back

For a transcript and more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at opportunitygap@understood.org.

Getting your child the support they need at school shouldn’t feel like a fight. But for millions of families, it does. In Zero Reject, an investigative podcast from Understood.org, award-winning journalist Anya Kamenetz looks at how changing federal policies are reshaping special education — and what’s at stake for families trying to access the support their children are legally entitled to. Start listening now.

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