A.T. Jones Academy


TAMPA — Twenty-two children were removed from kindergarten this week after school district officials discovered they were too young to be enrolled in their public charter school.

Now that school, A.T. Jones Academy, stands to lose more than $64,000 in state and local funding to make up for the error.

"It was a mistake the principal made at the school," said Hillsborough County charter schools supervisor Jenna Hodgens. "The mistake was caught."

The situation came to light after principal Brenda Kearse sought help from the district for a student with behavior problems. When officials learned the student's age — 4 years old, despite a state law setting the minimum age for public school at 5 by Sept. 1 — they checked and found 21 more…

Kearse told Bay News 9 that she misinterpreted state law…

School district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said the principal and the charter's board should have known better.

"Charter schools have autonomy," she said. "It is their responsibility to follow the law."

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TAMPA - Parents of 4-year-olds attending a kindergarten class for free learned they'll need to pay $115 a week for the rest of the year because their charter school, A.T. Jones Academy, mistakenly enrolled students too young for the program…

The school is named for the Rev. Arthur T. Jones, pastor of the Bible-Based Fellowship Church, who emphasized math, science and technology skills in opening the academy this school year…

Located next to the church, [the school] used to house the Bible-Based Fellowship Christian Academy, a private school that closed in 2008 because of low enrollment…

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Students that continued with the Accelerated Scholars Program (fee based) were able to read on kindergarten level, compute addition math problems, write in print and cursive writing, and sang songs in english, spanish, french, and mandarin chinese.

Anonymous said...

I dont know how the principle has kept her job. How is it that every parent knows the age a child starts school and what the cut off date is, but the principle of an elementary school does not???

Anonymous said...

They need to check the school again this year. That principle is still shady on how she runs things.

Anonymous said...

Shady is an understatement

Lisa S. said...

A.T. Jones Academy is PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL with a "private school" feel. Children learn the essentials such as Reading, Writing, Social Studies, Science and Math. But then the school takes it many steps forward, preparing our children for the rapidly changing and technologically driven world. Scholars learn Technology and are able to create PowerPoint presentations in KINDERGARTEN. All Scholars learn Mandarin Chinese for 30 minutes per day. They are able to speak, read and write this #1 language in the world. They learn valuable lessons about character and respect and have wonderful elective activities such as P.E., Chess, Home Economics, Chorus, and more. I HIGHLY recommend this school to ANYONE who is fed up with the mainstream and wants ONLY THE BEST for their child! I know it was the best decision we ever made! A school should promote INDIVIDUALISM, CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL THINKING and children should be allowed to EXCEL at their own pace. A school that prepares children for the future, rather than for JUST a week's worth of tests is an A in my book.

Thankful Mom said...

I have 2 scholars that attend A.T. Jones Academy and none of my kids counterparts at local public and some of the private schools can match their critical thinking and the level that they have achieved by going to this school. To retain kids because of a birthday or to follow a "structured" curriculum because it has been decided by the district that this how kids need and should learn is a shame. This school is preparing our kids for the future and I too HIGHLY recommend it.

Anonymous said...

My son attended AT Jones in the 2011-2012 School Year. He transferred Mid-Year in January. When he started the school he was behind in his math skills from his previous private school. Within 2 weeks his 2nd grade teacher had him working on par with the rest of the 2nd grade class. The dedication of the staff and facility is amazing!

Mom of an AT Jones Scholar!