Leading off today: I don't often pull out the credit card to get a peek at content living behind a pay wall, but
Thursday's story by reporter Kevin Armstrong on NJ.com about the explosive growth of for-profit "reclassification academies" was as good a reason as any to reach for my wallet.
While the story focuses on what is happening in New Jersey, that state's proximity to us makes it a New York story as well. And it's a troubling one, for sure.
Armstrong's six-month investigation found that the dubious practice of holding students back a year before entering high school (where the eligibility clock starts) to enhance college recruitment opportunities is no longer primarily a basketball and football exploit of the system.
It has seeped into virtually every sport and does so with increasing frequency.
At least 16 "academies," some charging more than $15,000, offer sports-focused reclassification programs in New Jersey, and three more are opening in September. Of the 16, only five are not-for-profit and just three have accreditation. Some athletes are "double reclassing" by repeating both fifth and eighth grades to maximize physical development.
And it's all legal. While some hold aspects of New Jersey up as a model to embrace for scholastic athletics, the indifference to best practices in education that make reclassification mills possible there is startling.
The ratio of athletics to academics at some of the academies is out of kilter, in large part because those attending can claim they are participating in home schooling.
The website termed New Jersey's home school law one of the least restrictive in the country. Home-schoolers are not required to maintain attendance, instructional plans or testing records. They must only provide "an equivalent education," and the state's intervention toward non-traditional schools is limited to health and safety regulations.
"When you're wrestling six hours a day, that definitely helps," said Santino Rodriguez, a Don Bosco Prep wrestler and Cornell University commit who reclassified and went on to a state championship in March. "You do that for eight months, every single day, you're going to jump levels when everybody else is learning, like, Algebra and English."
New York Giants General Manager Joe Schoen sent his son, Carson, to an academy for eighth grade. Classes included "Mindset, Mindfulness and Focal Attention." Transcripts highlighted biometrics: body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, and a combine evaluation including vertical jump and mile time.
Educators wonder about social, emotional and intellectual costs. Five current high school athletes told NJ.com of parents wanting to reclassify as early as second grade. Others spoke of struggling to re-acclimate as 16-year-old freshmen and feeling left behind upon seeing classmates from elementary school graduate a year ahead of them.
"When the end game might be that it's benefiting the business and not the kid, then that is the worst of the worst," Brian Prendergast, the track coach at Manalapan High, told the website.
NJSIAA Executive Director Colleen Maguire declined a request to discuss reclassification but released a statement saying she's "aware" of the trend.
State Sen. John Burzichelli is looking to rein in sports academies in New Jersey. In a bill introduced in January, he proposed mandatory annual wellness checks for home-schoolers with their respective districts.
"Even with what little law we have, I would say with some certainty that what's taking place here violates the spirit of the intention of home schooling," he said.
Gatorade announces New York track and field honors
Bay Shore senior distance runner
Maggie McCormick has been selected Gatorade's New York female track and field athlete of the year.
McCormick was ranked No. 1 in the state in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters in both indoor and outdoor track this year. She won both NYSPHSAA 1,500 titles and the two-mile championship in 9:50.81 at New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
The University of Florida recruit's top times outdoors were 4:16.01 in the 1,500 and a 9:15.22 in the 3,000.
On the boys side, Gatorade selected Somers senior Charles Sullivan, who took second place at both the USATF Under-20 Championships and the Nike Outdoor Nationals.
Sullivan's career-best hammer throw of 238 feet, 3 inches last month ranked No. 3 nationally among high school weight men.
Sullivan is heading to the University of Wisconsin in the fall.
Extra points
Mark Magliocco Sr. is returning to the role of head baseball coach at Aquinas, the school announced. He takes over from 10th-year coach Ray Manioci, who is staying on as a program assistant and pitching coach.
Magliocco, most recently a baseball and football assistant at the school, guided Aquinas to four Section 5 baseball titles from 1997-2016, and the 2009 team captured a NYSPHSAA championship.
