Clay County public schools superintendent Charlie Van Zant has given the green light for 15-year-old private school student Kevin Gines to attend the district's Junior ROTC program.

“This isn’t that hard,’’ said Van Zant, who was able to quickly resolve an issue over whether Gines was eligible. “We’re not going to keep a kid out of ROTC.’’

Kevin is a rising sophomore and A- and B-student at Christian Home Academy in Orange Park. He attends through a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, which is based on his family’s income. The district was first unsure whether it could allow Kevin to take a naval science class that is part of the JROTC program at Middleburg High, and one administrator denied the request.

Van Zant says the situation reflects on the changing nature of public education in Clay County.

“Private-schoolers being enrolled in two schools at once – honestly, it’s probably never happened before,’’ he said. “We’re in a really exciting time in education.’’

The Florida Department of Education reviewed the case, as well, to make sure that Kevin's enrollment in the district class does not affect the status of his scholarship. Under current law, scholarship students are allowed to take up to two public virtual courses a year. After final review, the education commissioner's office determined that the JROTC course is consistent with that provision.

“This is a good example of how our public education landscape is changing so rapidly,’’ said Doug Tuthill, president of the nonprofit that helps administer the scholarship (and that hosts this blog). “Our state polices are struggling to keep up.’’

A private school student denied enrollment in a public school Junior ROTC program in Florida may get a chance to participate after all.

Clay County Superintendent Charlie Van Zant told redefinED Wednesday he is looking into his district’s recent decision with the hope of getting 15-year-old Kevin Gines into JROTC by August. Van Zant also added he is a longtime supporter of school choice options.

“It takes all kinds of programs and school offerings to get our kids where they need to be,’’ he said.

School board member Johnna McKinnon said she also plans to discuss the matter with administrators Wednesday evening, after a special district executive meeting.

“I am not aware that anyone has been denied that ability,’’ said McKinnon, who described herself as “very pro-ROTC.’’

Fellow board member Tina Bullock, a former high school principal, said she couldn’t see any reason Kevin couldn’t be admitted into the program if he was a student in good standing. “It’s clear we accept any student as long as the criteria are met and there is space available,’’ she said. “We’re looking for students.’’

Private school students can participate in public school extra-curricular activities, such as sports, and in gifted programs. And Clay County has welcomed virtual education students, homeschoolers and students from outside the district – with more than 300 special assignments this year alone, Van Zant said.

All three district leaders said they didn’t know about Kevin’s situation until after our story ran Tuesday.

Kevin attends Christian Home Academy in Orange Park on a publicly-funded scholarship for low-income students. (The scholarship program is administered by Step Up For Students, which co-hosts this blog.) Someday, he hopes to be a Marine – and he wants to start preparing now. (more…)

Kevin Gines is 15 years old. He attends a private school on a publicly-funded scholarship for low-income kids. He wants to be a Marine.

He’s dying to get into a Junior ROTC program to start getting prepped. But there’s one big hitch.

His small school in north Florida doesn’t have a JROTC program. And he can’t get into the JROTC program at a nearby public high school because the school district says no.

A district administrator for Clay County public schools told Kevin's father his son can’t participate because he’s not enrolled in the public school, Middleburg High.

“It’s not simply attending the after school drills,’’ wrote Lyle Bandy, director of exceptional student education, in an email to Jesse Gines (pronounced Hee-nez).

The program includes a sequence of Naval science classes during the school day that the student also must complete, Bandy said, citing the official Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps website.

That was the end of it for Bandy, who did not respond to our requests for comment. But not for Gines.

He reached out to another public school with a JROTC program, Mandarin High, about 25 miles away in neighboring Duval County. A JROTC official there told him Kevin was welcome to join JROTC.

“In the past, that has taken place,’’ said Lt. Evaristo Gines (no relation to Kevin and Jesse), who is awaiting final word from his district supervisors. “All I know is that we’re in the business of trying to help the students.’’

Kevin may be caught in a gray area as the once hard-and-fast lines of public education continue to blur. Tim Tebow was homeschooled, but starred on a public high school football team. Private school students can take classes through the public Florida Virtual School. They also can participate in public school gifted programs. So why can’t Kevin join JROTC at a public school?

Jesse Gines points to state statutes that allow private school students to participate in extra-curricular activities, such as sports, at public schools. He also looked at the JROTC website and noted the requirements include a provision that lets students not enrolled in the host school become special cadets.

“It does not state denial of enrollment,’’ said Gines, a security guard at Florida State College in Jacksonville. “It does state opportunity for all schools.’’ (more…)