Raynesha Cummings made the decision to enroll her three teenagers in a private school with the primary intention of keeping them safe from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The school, though small and lacking in amenities such as a lunch service, had a single dedicated teacher. This setup initially suited Cummings and her family well.
After graduating at the top of his class in May, her son had aspirations of attending a trade school. However, when he began applying, he was informed that his diploma would not be recognized by the schools.
When Cummings enrolled her children at Second Chance Academy, she was unaware that the school lacked accreditation, state approval, and proper supervision for the teachers responsible for her children’s education.
Cummings expressed regret, saying, “Had I known this beforehand, I would never have spent my money on sending them there. It feels like a huge mistake on my part.”
Second Chance is one of the off-the-grid schools in Louisiana that belong to a unique category called “nonpublic schools not seeking state approval.” These schools, including Second Chance, operate with minimal oversight. While most of these schools are home schools serving a single family, there are also brick-and-mortar schoolhouses like Second Chance that cater to multiple students.
The school on Renoir Avenue in Baton Rouge now stands abandoned, giving the impression that it may never reopen its doors. Sadly, this comes after a series of legal troubles that have plagued the institution. Additionally, the only teacher employed there is currently facing charges for sexual misconduct.
The number of Louisiana children attending unapproved schools, where there is no oversight to ensure their safety or the quality of their education, is rapidly increasing. In the 2017-18 school year, there were approximately 11,600 students enrolled in these schools. However, this number has more than doubled to over 21,000 students in the past school year. This surge in enrollment reflects the disengagement from traditional education systems that has been witnessed across the country during the pandemic.
In the late 1980s, Second Chance emerged as a private school with a unique focus on students who had been expelled from public schools. Its founder, Brendia Ford, consistently found herself at odds with public officials. On one occasion, in a display of defiance, she conducted classes outdoors for a period of two weeks after the fire marshal deemed the school unsafe following Hurricane Katrina.
In 1996, Corey Nash, Ford’s son, faced allegations of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student in the school’s locker room. However, he later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of simple battery, which still permitted him to retain his position working with children.
The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education revoked the school’s approval to grant state-recognized diplomas in 2000. Media reports at the time stated that state inspectors were unable to find attendance or progress reports, nor could they verify enrollment.
Despite lacking approval, the school continued to operate. By avoiding public funding, it was able to operate without being subjected to many regulations aside from the state fire code.
The Louisiana Department of Education gathers the names and enrollment figures of these schools, but provides minimal additional information. On its website, it cautions parents that it is unable to verify if these organizations meet the official criteria to be classified as schools.
Laura Hawkins, a former official at the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of these institutions.
In Louisiana, there are other schools that have not been approved, such as Springfield Preparatory Academy. According to an investigation by AP, this school was discovered to be selling diplomas. Another example is T.M. Landry, where a 2018 investigation by the New York Times revealed that transcripts were being falsified in order to secure admission for students into Ivy League schools.
According to Billy Clark, president of Delta College in Baton Rouge, many colleges have strict criteria when it comes to accepting diplomas. This is because students need to demonstrate that they have attended a program approved by the state in order to be eligible for federal financial aid.
In response to the allegations against Second Chance, Ted Beasley, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Education, stated that the department is not legally responsible for monitoring unapproved schools.
When Cummings began exploring options outside of the East Baton Rouge public schools, she had no knowledge of the situation at hand. At that time, the pandemic was at its peak, and Cummings believed that enrolling her children in a smaller school would provide them with a safer environment.
Cummings enrolled her twin daughters and older son in fall 2020 at Second Chance, a program recommended by her partner who had attended it in the 1990s. She paid $375 a month for their enrollment.
Nash, the sole teacher at the school and often the only adult in the building, would usually have around 25 teenagers under her care. Cummings noticed that her son was progressing through the material at an accelerated pace, to the point where he began taking on the role of a teacher himself.
However, Cummings recognized the benefits of the school.
“He allowed the children to express their true selves without punishing them for minor issues like public schools often do,” she remarked.
After facing rejection from multiple trade schools due to the non-recognition of his diploma, Cummings reached out to Nash to express his frustration. He believed that certain colleges simply had their own set of rules and regulations in place.
Dele Adebamiji, the lawyer representing Nash, declined to comment on the ongoing court case against his client. Efforts to contact Marlin Ford, who is listed as the school’s leader in state records, proved unsuccessful.
After Cummings posted on social media about her son being valedictorian, rumors began circulating among acquaintances about abuse at Second Chance. Concerned, she decided to check her daughter’s phone and was disturbed to find out that Nash had been soliciting nude photos and requesting inappropriate physical contact.
In a heated confrontation that was captured on video by her daughter and shared on social media, Cummings angrily confronted Nash. Nash defended himself, claiming that his texts were meant as a thoughtless joke and that he had never physically harmed or touched her.
Cummings’ daughter responded by saying, “No, but you gave it a shot. Don’t be foolish.”
Cummings has chosen to homeschool her daughters and is actively seeking ways to ensure her son receives a valid diploma while he attends community college classes. Sadly, her daughter has been experiencing depression due to hurtful victim-blaming comments she encountered on social media, resulting in her rarely leaving the house.
Cummings expressed her hope that other parents would gain awareness of the potential dangers associated with unapproved schools.
“I want to make sure that everyone knows not to enroll their kids,” she emphasized. “I took a risk with mine, but I strongly advise against taking the same risk with your own.”
The Carnegie Corporation of New York provides support to the Associated Press education team, ensuring their continued efforts in delivering quality content. The AP takes full responsibility for all of the content they produce.
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