IRMO, SC (WIS) -
Who says persistence doesn't pay? It did for home school student Edgar Brown, who's finally been allowed to join the JROTC program at Irmo High School.
It's a victory, but not for the new Equal Access to Interscholastic Activities Act. In a letter we obtained, Lexington-Richland District 5 still denied Brown access regardless of the new law. It was a loophole that got him in, much to the dismay of State Superintendent Mick Zais.
"The education establishment has resisted this law in South Carolina for 19 years," Zais said.
While Brown's now included, the Palmetto Family Council is working with others who've struggled with academic requests. It's a struggle that continues.
"The mindset that would exclude a child because they're home schooled, I just don't understand that whole mindset," Zais said.
Molly Spearman, executive director at the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, admits they weren't in favor of this legislation, but now that it's law they're working with school administrators.
It's not easy, says Spearman, because districts get no funding for these new part-time students.
We went to Attorney General Alan Wilson for his opinion, and he says, "We believe that the law should be read broadly, permitting home school, Governor's School and charter school student participation in the widest extent."
His interpretation includes credited courses like JROTC and band.
"It seems like you would open your arms and embrace them and say come be a part of our family, oh and by the way you might have a good experience here in this school and become a full-time student in our school. What they're doing it makes no sense whatsoever," Zais said.
The Palmetto Family Council hopes those districts who've put up resistance will start following the law. They're not looking for a favor from district, they're looking for compliance.
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