Holding out or holding back? Kindergarten redshirting and retention shifted sharply during the pandemic

During the pandemic, kindergarten redshirting and retention rates in Delaware underwent significant shifts, according to research from the University of Delaware. Researchers found that the pandemic led parents to delay kindergarten entry for their children, with redshirting rates increasing by 44% in fall 2021. Redshirting, or holding a child back from kindergarten, is generally uncommon in Delaware but became more common during the pandemic, particularly among historically underrepresented groups such as Black, Hispanic, and low-income students.

While redshirting may provide academic or social benefits if the child attends a high-quality developmental program, there are potential disadvantages, including social isolation, exposure to lower-quality instruction, and the cost of delaying entry into the workforce. Amanda Sassaman, a Delaware teacher who decided to delay her daughter's kindergarten entry due to a speech delay, shared her reasoning behind the decision.

However, she also noted that her daughter felt older and had asked why some friends had already started kindergarten.

Retention, on the other hand, refers to a school-led decision to hold a child back after their first year of kindergarten when they do not meet the necessary benchmarks for first grade. The evidence for the benefits of retention is less clear, as it can come with social stigma and increased social isolation. Retention rates declined again the following year after peaking in fall 2021, suggesting that families opted for another year of kindergarten due to the pandemic's virtual schooling environment.