Outcomes Related to RedshirtingĪcademic redshirting is very much a part of popular culture and is passed on by generations of individuals ( Graue & DiPerna, 2000). The current study makes use of a longitudinal, large-scale database to track the prevalence of redshirting over time at both the student and school levels. However, such statements may be based on anecdotal evidence, convenience samples with limited generalizability, or endorsements provided by individual parents or teachers. Conventional media outlets such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have referred to the practice of redshirting as the new norm ( Paul, 2010 Wallace, 2014).

Popular news programs, such as 60 Minutes and shows on Fox News, have indicated that “kindergarten redshirting has more than tripled since the 1970s” ( Safer, 2012) and that redshirting is a “growing phenomenon” ( “Parents ‘Redshirting’ Kindergartners,” 2010). today, the percentage is double that” ( “Editorial,” 2011). A newspaper editorial titled “Redshirting’ Kindergarteners Getting Out of Hand” indicated that “in the early 1990s, about 9% of kindergarteners were redshirted. Worries persist that academic redshirting may be on the rise as elementary schools become more academically demanding ( Dougan & Pijanowski, 2011). All subjects Allied Health Cardiology & Cardiovascular Medicine Dentistry Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Endocrinology & Metabolism Environmental Science General Medicine Geriatrics Infectious Diseases Medico-legal Neurology Nursing Nutrition Obstetrics & Gynecology Oncology Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Otolaryngology Palliative Medicine & Chronic Care Pediatrics Pharmacology & Toxicology Psychiatry & Psychology Public Health Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine Radiology Research Methods & Evaluation Rheumatology Surgery Tropical Medicine Veterinary Medicine Cell Biology Clinical Biochemistry Environmental Science Life Sciences Neuroscience Pharmacology & Toxicology Biomedical Engineering Engineering & Computing Environmental Engineering Materials Science Anthropology & Archaeology Communication & Media Studies Criminology & Criminal Justice Cultural Studies Economics & Development Education Environmental Studies Ethnic Studies Family Studies Gender Studies Geography Gerontology & Aging Group Studies History Information Science Interpersonal Violence Language & Linguistics Law Management & Organization Studies Marketing & Hospitality Music Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution Philosophy Politics & International Relations Psychoanalysis Psychology & Counseling Public Administration Regional Studies Religion Research Methods & Evaluation Science & Society Studies Social Work & Social Policy Sociology Special Education Urban Studies & Planning BROWSE JOURNALSĮven though redshirting continues to be of keen interest and concern for parents, teachers, administrators, and policymakers, there is a dearth of recent, large-scale empirical data that have been used to investigate this practice.

Redshirting kindergarten