School closures/delays?

Susan James said:From what I understand, the whole excuse note situation varies quite a bit depending on the school district, and even more so depending on the individual teacher.
According to this year's handbook, parents have to sign off on medical excuses, but the actual number of days a parent can justify without a doctor's note is pretty small🤷

What I meant was, school is a commitment—it's not like daycare. It actually just hit me that we won't be back in the States for two months🤷
Even for someone like me, who doesn't hold any strong opinions about schooling, I'm not the type to pull my kid out of class just because I feel like traveling or because I have a gap in my work schedule and want to bring them along...

Yesterday, I was chatting with some people who didn't get early enrollment last year (around the same time of year). What was driving them was actually the finances; they were talking about their bills and how much easier school makes their household budget this year.
It honestly surprised me that people calculate how much cheaper school is compared to other options😕, because I've always felt that the older kids get, the more expensive everything becomes.

School isn't cheaper.😁
After-school care$67
Food is $180-$200 depending on how many days they attend.

Plus there's everything else at school: field trips, art supplies, nature outings, museums, theater trips... you're looking at spending at least $17 every single week on something.
Compare that to daycare: the occasional pack of cups ($2.00), a pack of wet wipes ($5.00), maybe a show here and there ($20-$8.25).

Then there's sports for both kids (totaling $100 since they go to the same program, so the second child is half price) plus extra sports activities for the little one in daycare ($67).

Daycare + activities = $200
School + activities = $200

Susan James said:I don't think that's the whole story, though.
Usually, all that restless energy comes from not having enough physical activity during the day. 😠

Personally, I see staying in preschool a little longer as a huge plus.
I mean, if you look at those daycare centers where kids get to go outside twice a day to run around and climb on things... they can stay active even without a formal sports program built into the curriculum.

At our local elementary school, if the weather holds up—meaning it isn't knee-deep mud or pouring rain—they go out at least once, sometimes twice a day.
But kids in preschool? Sometimes they don't go out at all, even when the weather is perfectly fine.

It all comes down to the X factor...

Benjamin Nelson8 said:School isn't cheaper.😁
After-school care$67
Food is $180-$200 depending on how many days they attend.

Plus there's everything else at school: field trips, art supplies, nature outings, museums, theater trips... you're looking at spending at least $17 every single week on something.
Compare that to daycare: the occasional pack of cups ($2.00), a pack of wet wipes ($5.00), maybe a show here and there ($20-$8.25).

Then there's sports for both kids (totaling $100 since they go to the same program, so the second child is half price) plus extra sports activities for the little one in daycare ($67).

Daycare + activities = $200
School + activities = $200

If you don't have residency, you're basically starting from zero.
Maybe I'll think about a full meal later, but for now, I’m just looking for a quick snack—something around... $33 I know for a fact that isn't either.

The school doesn't really offer any paid extracurriculars like sports, language classes, or dance, which is such a change from what we had back in preschool. They actually told me that you really need to sign your kid up for these programs just so they don't feel left out, since all the other kids end up doing them. Apparently, once they hit first grade, the language program becomes free through the school district.

I was actually pretty surprised to see people crunching the numbers like that. It’s wild to think that daycare costs can be such a massive hit to the budget that parents are practically counting down the days until their kids start school. Of course, I know it hits differently if you're paying out of pocket versus having coverage, but man, those monthly bills really add up. $100 Even $600 can make a big difference, especially if you’re putting it into a private account. When you look at it over the course of a full year, those amounts really start to add up into a nice little cushion.
I honestly just feel like, no matter how you slice it, everything comes with a price tag. It’s just one of those realities of life—as your kids get older, the costs just keep climbing. 🤷

If we’re talking about crunching numbers—and I mean really looking at the math while ignoring a child's actual potential—it feels more logical to assume they'll just be older by the time they finally start. Plus, once childcare options dry up, they should theoretically be capable of staying home alone on their own (which, if you follow the Ombudsman's recommendations, is exactly what's supposed to happen). There's also that optimistic calculation that they might eventually land a "better" teacher, though people seem to be banking on that too. 🤣I see this happen quite often, especially with parents who have older kids and really want their younger ones to start first grade at the same time to keep things simple. It seems like that's why more people tend to opt for early enrollment—it just makes life easier for the family schedule. I remember hearing about those delays back in the day when families were waiting on new school openings; it actually made sense to wait if you knew a local spot was coming online soon. But I also know there’s been plenty of indecision elsewhere, too. People end up caught in this limbo where they aren't sure if they should deal with a year of commuting or just wait until they can enroll them in the neighborhood school. It’s a tough call, especially when you're in the middle of moving. If you haven't officially settled into your new house or apartment yet, it feels much more practical to keep the little one in daycare rather than dealing with a long drive to a school across town.

Honestly, I don't see much point in delaying things if growth just hits a plateau during that year—or worse, if they don't actually fix the areas where they're falling behind. It feels like you'd just be pushing the same problems down the road.🤷
As long as it’s a decision being made by parents, I really feel like it needs to be backed up by solid expert advice. There should be a clear, detailed roadmap laid out—showing exactly what’s going to happen, where it’s taking place, and who will be working with the child during that specific year. It shouldn't be left to guesswork.

Susan James said:If you don't have residency, you're basically starting from zero.
Maybe I'll think about a full meal later, but for now, I’m just looking for a quick snack—something around... $33 I know for a fact that isn't either.

The school doesn't really offer any paid extracurriculars like sports, language classes, or dance, which is such a change from what we had back in preschool. They actually told me that you really need to sign your kid up for these programs just so they don't feel left out, since all the other kids end up doing them. Apparently, once they hit first grade, the language program becomes free through the school district.

I was actually pretty surprised to see people crunching the numbers like that. It’s wild to think that daycare costs can be such a massive hit to the budget that parents are practically counting down the days until their kids start school. Of course, I know it hits differently if you're paying out of pocket versus having coverage, but man, those monthly bills really add up. $100 Even $600 can make a big difference, especially if you’re putting it into a private account. When you look at it over the course of a full year, those amounts really start to add up into a nice little cushion.
I honestly just feel like, no matter how you slice it, everything comes with a price tag. It’s just one of those realities of life—as your kids get older, the costs just keep climbing. 🤷

If we’re talking about crunching numbers—and I mean really looking at the math while ignoring a child's actual potential—it feels more logical to assume they'll just be older by the time they finally start. Plus, once childcare options dry up, they should theoretically be capable of staying home alone on their own (which, if you follow the Ombudsman's recommendations, is exactly what's supposed to happen). There's also that optimistic calculation that they might eventually land a "better" teacher, though people seem to be banking on that too. 🤣I see this happen quite often, especially with parents who have older kids and really want their younger ones to start first grade at the same time to keep things simple. It seems like that's why more people tend to opt for early enrollment—it just makes life easier for the family schedule. I remember hearing about those delays back in the day when families were waiting on new school openings; it actually made sense to wait if you knew a local spot was coming online soon. But I also know there’s been plenty of indecision elsewhere, too. People end up caught in this limbo where they aren't sure if they should deal with a year of commuting or just wait until they can enroll them in the neighborhood school. It’s a tough call, especially when you're in the middle of moving. If you haven't officially settled into your new house or apartment yet, it feels much more practical to keep the little one in daycare rather than dealing with a long drive to a school across town.

Honestly, I don't see much point in delaying things if growth just hits a plateau during that year—or worse, if they don't actually fix the areas where they're falling behind. It feels like you'd just be pushing the same problems down the road.🤷
As long as it’s a decision being made by parents, I really feel like it needs to be backed up by solid expert advice. There should be a clear, detailed roadmap laid out—showing exactly what’s going to happen, where it’s taking place, and who will be working with the child during that specific year. It shouldn't be left to guesswork.

We have a pediatrician here who does the annual checkups and she's totally "pro-delay."
I honestly don't know what her clinical reasoning is (other than her own personal anecdote about waiting until a kid was 7 instead of 6, which worked out great for her, but hey, that's just one person's experience and nothing more).

So, for Harold Cook2:
since you're living on the East Coast side of town and will probably head to her for the physical anyway, you can get that delay approved without any hassle if that's what you want to do.
Between the school's specialist teams and the onsite psychologists all being on board with starting school a bit later, it’s pretty easy. From what I've seen firsthand, kids who get held back for no major reason other than "they're still acting like little kids" can easily get that extension the following year too, if you decide to go that route then.

Benjamin Nelson8 said:At our local elementary school, if the weather holds up—meaning it isn't knee-deep mud or pouring rain—they go out at least once, sometimes twice a day.
But kids in preschool? Sometimes they don't go out at all, even when the weather is perfectly fine.

It all comes down to the X factor...

I have a similar situation here. My younger one ends up staying in their room most of the day (I can tell because they're perfectly 😁), while the older one comes back covered in dirt after playing soccer with the neighborhood kids.

Karen Richardson3 said:We have a pediatrician here who does the annual checkups and she's totally "pro-delay."
I honestly don't know what her clinical reasoning is (other than her own personal anecdote about waiting until a kid was 7 instead of 6, which worked out great for her, but hey, that's just one person's experience and nothing more).

So, for Harold Cook2:
since you're living on the East Coast side of town and will probably head to her for the physical anyway, you can get that delay approved without any hassle if that's what you want to do.
Between the school's specialist teams and the onsite psychologists all being on board with starting school a bit later, it’s pretty easy. From what I've seen firsthand, kids who get held back for no major reason other than "they're still acting like little kids" can easily get that extension the following year too, if you decide to go that route then.

Yeah, I'm on the East Side.😉
Where exactly is this checkup happening?

I don't want to start a whole new thread here, but I wasn't thinking about delaying school for money reasons like some people are claiming in here. It's strictly about him being immature. That is the only reason.

Preschool is honestly the best—zero pressure, just play and having fun. Plus, you don't have to deal with those endless summer break dilemmas where you're stuck wondering where to take the kid, essentially paying a fortune just to ensure they aren't sitting at home all day.

Between the mountain of responsibilities, homework, studying, and drills... kids aren't even capable of handling their own schoolwork yet. It all falls squarely on the parents—especially if there isn't an after-school program available.🤔

And don't even get me started on the costs. You've got preschool tuition $50 and that’s basically it—just a few little extras you need to pack

So, I see the Mayor is bringing up all these different "reasons" for the delay...
I think the most believable excuse I've heard so far is this one: some mom is currently on maternity leave with her second baby and wants to stay by the beach as long as possible—even through September and October if the weather stays nice. She’s basically asking to push back the older kid's start date just so they can stay together and she doesn't have to deal with being back in Washington, D.C. yet. 🙂

Daniel Gomez10 said:So, I see the Mayor is bringing up all these different "reasons" for the delay...
I think the most believable excuse I've heard so far is this one: some mom is currently on maternity leave with her second baby and wants to stay by the beach as long as possible—even through September and October if the weather stays nice. She’s basically asking to push back the older kid's start date just so they can stay together and she doesn't have to deal with being back in Washington, D.C. yet. 🙂

I know them from a few different places, I guess.🙂

Daniel Gomez10 said:So, I see the Mayor is bringing up all these different "reasons" for the delay...
I think the most believable excuse I've heard so far is this one: some mom is currently on maternity leave with her second baby and wants to stay by the beach as long as possible—even through September and October if the weather stays nice. She’s basically asking to push back the older kid's start date just so they can stay together and she doesn't have to deal with being back in Washington, D.C. yet. 🙂

Honestly, that sounds like a win-win to me.🤣
Think about it: everyone gets fresh air, siblings get to bond, and you avoid that classic jealousy where the toddler wants attention while the school-aged kid is trying to focus. Instead of a parent juggling diapers and breastfeeding while worrying about school schedules, everyone just hangs out at the beach and enjoys the summer vibes. 😍

Alright, so what’s actually the issue here? They organized things however they saw fit—it's their call. 🤷

Did they actually screw anyone over? Even if they did, a year later... honestly, who cares? It’s all water under the bridge now.

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Alright, so what’s actually the issue here? They organized things however they saw fit—it's their call. 🤷

Did they actually screw anyone over? Even if they did, a year later... honestly, who cares? It’s all water under the bridge now.

Honestly, I don't see a problem. Parents inherently know what's best for their kids. In every single category. It makes me wonder why we even bother employing doctors, dentists, teachers, or professors if parents are supposedly walking encyclopedias who know better than the experts. We might as well just switch entirely to homeschooling and standardized testing at home. No need for school ever. Forget socialization; we don't need that either. School was basically just a glorified daycare for that purpose anyway, and clearly, the teachers aren't teaching our precious little ones anything useful.
What’s the point of having professionals—doctors, pedagogues, psychologists, educators—if a parent can just decide for themselves whether a child is ready for school? If a kid is sick, you don't need a doctor to treat them; hell, you don't even need a doctor to tell you they're recovered. The parent knows best.
When it comes to pulling a kid out of school, the parent is perfectly qualified to make that call, and they're more than moral enough not to abuse that right to the detriment of the child. In fact, once that child miraculously lands a job, the parent should be competent enough to forge an excuse note so the kid can spend a few extra days at the beach during their vacation.

I truly fail to see why we even fund institutions to educate children when all that knowledge could just be passed down at home. The parent knows more than the teacher or the professor. Heck, you could probably knock out a college degree in your living room. Why do these professions even exist? It's just a massive waste of taxpayer money on salaries and tuition.

But fine, let's get serious for a second. I don't think it matters much whether a child starts school late or not, but I do believe that we, as parents, should loosen the reins and stop micromanaging every single variable.
We know our children better than anyone, sure, but let's give the professionals a chance to weigh in. In my view, a child who is emotionally and intellectually ready for school—and isn't facing major speech or developmental hurdles—should be sent to school when the law says it's time, rather than begging for a deferment just to squeeze in one more summer at the coast.

Deferments only make sense if a child is struggling in a specific area and needs that extra window to prepare (or mature) so they can face school obligations more effectively the following year.
A deferment is complete nonsense if a child has, say, speech impediments that triggered the recommendation, yet the parents refuse to see a specialist (or can't find one easily in this country) and skip that crucial year of therapy. Or if parents won't seek guidance on how to support the child's emotional or social growth through workshops or counseling. We aren't all-knowing parents, even if we love to pretend we are. 😉

Tyler Ruiz502 said:Alright, so what’s actually the issue here? They organized things however they saw fit—it's their call. 🤷

Did they actually screw anyone over? Even if they did, a year later... honestly, who cares? It’s all water under the bridge now.

School isn't just about rote memorization, and we aren't talking about one-on-one tutoring where the impact is negligible.

My son was born late in March, and based on advice from specialists—and his preschool teacher's take—he started school at the "standard" age. He couldn't read a lick when he walked through the doors, but he caught up on the curriculum without breaking a sweat. I helped him with his homework during the first semester, but by the second half, he insisted on doing everything himself and he's doing great.

On the flip side, there are 21 kids in his class, and I know of at least five who turned eight before he even hit seven. In some cases, parents practically forced the school to delay their start dates. You can already see a massive gap in behavior and interests, mostly because of the maturity difference that comes with being an older kid in the room. Honestly, I can't imagine how much more chaotic it'll get once puberty hits.

We all live in the same society, and I'm a firm believer in following established social rules rather than expecting the entire system to bend for individuals just because someone's birthday falls in September and they'd rather be living in Washington, D.C.

Joseph Stewart7 said:School isn't just about rote memorization, and we aren't talking about one-on-one tutoring where the impact is negligible.

My son was born late in March, and based on advice from specialists—and his preschool teacher's take—he started school at the "standard" age. He couldn't read a lick when he walked through the doors, but he caught up on the curriculum without breaking a sweat. I helped him with his homework during the first semester, but by the second half, he insisted on doing everything himself and he's doing great.

On the flip side, there are 21 kids in his class, and I know of at least five who turned eight before he even hit seven. In some cases, parents practically forced the school to delay their start dates. You can already see a massive gap in behavior and interests, mostly because of the maturity difference that comes with being an older kid in the room. Honestly, I can't imagine how much more chaotic it'll get once puberty hits.

We all live in the same society, and I'm a firm believer in following established social rules rather than expecting the entire system to bend for individuals just because someone's birthday falls in September and they'd rather be living in Washington, D.C.

I don't really get this?
Are those older kids somehow "more mature" or whatever? Is the issue just that kids act differently or have different interests? What kind of differences are we even talking about here? And the whole thing about puberty... I mean, what's the big deal? What's supposedly going to happen?

I can't help but wonder about the kids born in the middle of the school year. They probably struggle since they're always the oldest in their class 🤷

I honestly don't see the harm in delaying school. Even if someone just wants to spend those extra four months at the beach with their child—it’s not the end of the world. Some things in life are irreplaceable, but starting school at six and a half instead of seven isn't one of them.

I don't really get it. Like, say one kid was born on March 29th and another one shows up on April 6th.
What's the big deal if that first kid gets pushed back? What actually changes in those seven days? I mean, seriously, what happens?

You aren't following the RULES. You're acting like you know better than everyone else, putting your own little agenda ahead of the system's guidelines. It’s common knowledge that people come here to follow the framework, not to bend it to their will.

Raymond Jones8 said:I don't really get this?
Are those older kids somehow "more mature" or whatever? Is the issue just that kids act differently or have different interests? What kind of differences are we even talking about here? And the whole thing about puberty... I mean, what's the big deal? What's supposedly going to happen?

From what I can tell, those older kids are just calmer. I don't know how they act during class because the teacher doesn't make much of a fuss about it, but she seems pretty great. If she weren't so good—say she told me my son was constantly fidgeting while some other kid was perfectly still—it would bother me. My boy is 7, and if that other kid was 8.5, I’d definitely find that comparison unfair. And honestly, there are plenty of teachers out there who would make those kinds of comments.

As for the social side: My son used to bring quite a few classmates over to play, both boys and girls. Listening to them talk, I noticed a clear split; some are still obsessed with Mickey Mouse or Tom & Jerry, while others are already watching things like Victoria's Secret shows or Big Brother. I'm not trying to be a parent police officer or decide what's age-appropriate. I have no clue how much TV they actually watch, but I've observed how some kids get incredibly animated talking about how Jerry escaped, while others are deep in discussions about soap opera drama. Every single time, it turns out the younger kids are the ones watching cartoons, which makes them a bit more high-energy and restless (though still plenty ready for first grade).
Quincy:

I don't get the big deal about puberty either; what's the worst that could happen?

When I was a kid, I used to hang out with neighbors who were maybe two years older or younger than me. Those playdates started thinning out right around the time we hit puberty. It just felt like the gap between us had suddenly become massive. We actually started hanging out more again toward the end of high school. I can't quite put my finger on why, but at that stage of life, those couple of years really mattered.
Bottom line, nothing catastrophic is going to happen (and I wasn't suggesting it was a disaster when I posted). Likewise, nothing terrible will happen if a child starts school on time, provided no one besides the parents sees a reason to delay it.

rowdypanther12 said:You aren't following the RULES. You're acting like you know better than everyone else, putting your own little agenda ahead of the system's guidelines. It’s common knowledge that people come here to follow the framework, not to bend it to their will.

Oh, I'm just a stupid woman, am I? 😁

I mean, honestly, I’d probably vote for a delay if, say, most kids in a preschool group were all heading to the same elementary school at once... just so nobody feels left behind or misses out on being with their buddies, you know?

Total anarchy!