Improving Education in Juvenile Correctional Facilities

Education in correctional facilities has gained national attention over the past year, with discussion of juvenile correctional education in particular included in such reports as the School Discipline Consensus Report and now a new set of guiding principles released by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice.

This growing body of research on education in juvenile correctional settings emphasizes that youth in secure facilities must have access to the same high-quality learning opportunities that exist for youth outside the juvenile justice system. Considering this aim, the reports listed below provide strategies and recommendations to ensure that all youth are provided a safe and engaging learning environment; have access to highly qualified teachers who have opportunities for ongoing professional development; and are taught a rigorous curriculum aligned with state standards. High-quality juvenile correctional education also requires effective reentry procedures to help youth transition back to school and into the community upon release and continue on a pathway toward postsecondary and workforce success.

CSG Justice Center

• School Discipline Consensus Report (page 305)

U.S. Departments of Education and Justice

• Guiding Principles for Providing High-Quality Education in Juvenile Justice Secure Care Settings

RAND Corporation

• How Effective Is Correctional Education, and Where Do We Go from Here?

Southern Education Foundation

• Just Learning: The Imperative to Transform Juvenile Justice Systems Into Effective Educational Systems