In the state of Texas can they legally hold back your child from kindergarten or is it the parents decision?
Thank you everyone for your input! I have been to the TEA and the school board with this situation and have handled it. Without going in too much detail it came down to the teacher disagreeing with me and trying to take it out on my child. I have nipped this and made sure it wont happen again on my watch.
Here's the TEA website:
Maybe you can find an answer there--or a number you can call.
I'm not sure why you are saking, but I would imagine it's because your child's school wants hold your child back. Please take my advice for what it's worth; it may not be applicable to your situation.
As an early childhood educator, I always suggest to parents that they not make this type of decision on their own. Even if you are objecting to holding a child back, you may want to really sit down with your child's teacher and discuss why they want to hold your child back. Keep in mind, the teacher has see your child in many different settings, and may have valid concerns about your child's progress in school. It may very well be that your child may not be ready for 1st grade, and if your child advances to first grade without the proper skills, it will have a lasting impact on your child's educational sucess later on down the road.
Now it could be your teachers concerns aren't valid, it which case you may want to fight the retention.
Whatever the issue is, I'd strongly advise you to talk this through with your child's teacher, your husbnad/partner (if there is one) and the school principal.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Pretty sure they can, it depends on the reason though. They wouldn't force the issue if they didn't feel it was necessary, so it's best to speak with the school. Ultimately, it is the school who determines the grade and schedule of the child, unless the parent chooses to hold the child back of course.
In CA they can tell the parents a child is not ready for kindergarten and to come back next year (happened to one of my grandsons and I homeschooled him so he could enter first grade on time, and to my next door neighbor's son because he was not potty trained and he was deemed a health hazard to the other children) as well as hold them back, even though kindergarten is not required under the law! And, parents also have the option of holding their child back.
So I'm guessing it could very well be the same in TX as Momma L said. If this pertains to you ask the school district to see a copy of the policy.
It's unclear to me what you're asking -- do you mean hold back a child "from" attending in the first place, and asking the parents to wait a year before the child starts? Or do you mean a child who is already in K this year being told to repeat K next year?
Either way, please heed the advice of the person who posted that you should talk in great detail with the teacher (if it's a case of child now in K whom the school wants to repeat K). There are many factors in holding a child in K for another year and only some are academic.
A child who moves up to another grade without being really ready -- socially and in maturity and organizational skills, as well as academically -- pays a price. Elementary school today requires much more of kids than it did when we were kids. Also, they need to be able to function in much larger classes, listen the first time to directions and not be re-told over and over, move from activity to activity easily and without resisting; and so much more. Talk to the teacher about whether any of these kinds of skills are what are making them suggest holding the child back a year -- if that's what is meant by the question.
Call your local school district to ask this question.
Teachers, make recommendations.
They are not telling you what to do.
It is recommendations, and they discuss it with the parent.
Because, a Teacher/school has reasons to feel a child needs to be held back.
In many States, Kindergarten is not even "mandatory."
So are you trying to get your child into Kindergarten... OR is this about the Teacher recommending that your child to repeat, Kindergarten?????????
I think it is the parents decision when it all comes down to it. But if it is due to absences or something like that they may have no choice. I would then think about private school or home schooling for that year so they could still be with their aged kid friends.
I would definitely do some more checking but my understanding is that kindergarten is not mandatory in Texas and therefore you can refuse to let your child be held back in kindergarten. After that - I believe it's the schools decision.
One and done sent you the state requirements, but it looks like the school district your child is in will determine how they handle it.
